CVE-2008-3889
CVE-2008-3889 is a low-severity vulnerability in Postfix with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 2.1. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-20.
Key facts
- Severity: Low (CVSS 2.0 base score 2.1)
- EPSS exploit prediction: 1% (49th percentile)
- Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
- Weakness: CWE-20
- Affected product: Postfix
- Published:
- Last modified:
Description
Postfix 2.4 before 2.4.9, 2.5 before 2.5.5, and 2.6 before 2.6-20080902, when used with the Linux 2.6 kernel, leaks epoll file descriptors during execution of "non-Postfix" commands, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (application slowdown or exit) via a crafted command, as demonstrated by a command in a .forward file.
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2008-3889?
- Postfix 2.4 before 2.4.9, 2.5 before 2.5.5, and 2.6 before 2.6-20080902, when used with the Linux 2.6 kernel, leaks epoll file descriptors during execution of "non-Postfix" commands, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (application slowdown or exit) via a crafted command, as demonstrated by a command in a .forward file.
- How severe is CVE-2008-3889?
- CVE-2008-3889 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 2.1, rated low severity.
- Is CVE-2008-3889 being actively exploited?
- It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (49th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- What products are affected by CVE-2008-3889?
- CVE-2008-3889 primarily affects Postfix. In total, 14 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
- How do I fix CVE-2008-3889?
- Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
- When was CVE-2008-3889 published?
- CVE-2008-3889 was published on 2008-09-12 and last updated on 2026-06-16.
References
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2008-09/msg00004.html
- http://secunia.com/advisories/31716
- http://secunia.com/advisories/31800
- http://secunia.com/advisories/31982
- http://secunia.com/advisories/31986
- http://secunia.com/advisories/32231
- http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200809-09.xml
- http://securityreason.com/securityalert/4239
- http://securitytracker.com/id?1020800
- http://wiki.rpath.com/wiki/Advisories:rPSA-2008-0311
- http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2008:190
- http://www.postfix.org/announcements/20080902.html
- http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/495894/100/0/threaded
- http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/496420/100/0/threaded
- http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/498037/100/0/threaded
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/30977
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/usn-642-1
- http://www.wekk.net/research/CVE-2008-3889/
- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/44865
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/6472
- https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-package-announce/2008-October/msg00271.html
- https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-package-announce/2008-October/msg00287.html
Affected products (14)
- cpe:2.3:a:postfix:postfix:2.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:postfix:postfix:2.4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:postfix:postfix:2.4.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:postfix:postfix:2.4.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:postfix:postfix:2.4.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:postfix:postfix:2.4.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:postfix:postfix:2.4.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:postfix:postfix:2.4.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:postfix:postfix:2.4.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:postfix:postfix:2.4.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:postfix:postfix:2.5.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:postfix:postfix:2.5.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:postfix:postfix:2.5.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:postfix:postfix:2.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
More vulnerabilities in Postfix
- CVE-2017-10140 — High (CVSS 7.8): Postfix before 2.11.10, 3.0.x before 3.0.10, 3.1.x before 3.1.6, and 3.2.x before 3.2.2 might allow local users to gain…
- CVE-2009-2939 — Medium (CVSS 6.9): The postfix.postinst script in the Debian GNU/Linux and Ubuntu postfix 2.5.5 package grants the postfix user write…
- CVE-2008-4977 — Medium (CVSS 6.9): postfix_groups.pl in Postfix 2.5.2 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the (1)…
- CVE-2011-1720 — Medium (CVSS 6.8): The SMTP server in Postfix before 2.5.13, 2.6.x before 2.6.10, 2.7.x before 2.7.4, and 2.8.x before 2.8.3, when certain…
- CVE-2011-0411 — Medium (CVSS 6.8): The STARTTLS implementation in Postfix 2.4.x before 2.4.16, 2.5.x before 2.5.12, 2.6.x before 2.6.9, and 2.7.x before…
- CVE-2012-0811 — Medium (CVSS 6.5): Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in Postfix Admin (aka postfixadmin) before 2.3.5 allow remote authenticated…
Other CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation) vulnerabilities
- CVE-2026-48316 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): ColdFusion versions 2025.9, 2023.20 and earlier are affected by an Improper Input Validation vulnerability that could…
- CVE-2026-48281 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): ColdFusion versions 2025.9, 2023.20 and earlier are affected by an Improper Input Validation vulnerability that could…
- CVE-2026-48277 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): ColdFusion versions 2025.9, 2023.20 and earlier are affected by an Improper Input Validation vulnerability that could…
- CVE-2026-48055 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Streambert is a cross-platform Electron Desktop App to stream and download any video media. In versions 2.4.0 and…
- CVE-2026-34910 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): A malicious actor with access to the network could exploit an Improper Input Validation vulnerability found in UniFi OS…
- CVE-2026-33587 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Lack of user input sanitisation in Open Notebook v1.8.3 allows the application user to execute Python code (and…
Browse all CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation) vulnerabilities →