CVE-2008-4578

CVE-2008-4578 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Dovecot with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 5.0. 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-264.

Key facts

• Severity: Medium (CVSS 2.0 base score 5.0)
• EPSS exploit prediction: 2% (74th percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-264
• Affected product: Dovecot
• Published: 2008-10-15
• Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

The ACL plugin in Dovecot before 1.1.4 allows attackers to bypass intended access restrictions by using the "k" right to create unauthorized "parent/child/child" mailboxes.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2008-4578?

The ACL plugin in Dovecot before 1.1.4 allows attackers to bypass intended access restrictions by using the "k" right to create unauthorized "parent/child/child" mailboxes.

How severe is CVE-2008-4578?

CVE-2008-4578 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 5.0, rated medium severity.

Is CVE-2008-4578 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (74th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2008-4578?

CVE-2008-4578 primarily affects Dovecot. In total, 57 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2008-4578?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2008-4578 published?

CVE-2008-4578 was published on 2008-10-15 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

• http://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=240409
• http://secunia.com/advisories/32164
• http://secunia.com/advisories/33149
• http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200812-16.xml
• http://www.dovecot.org/list/dovecot-news/2008-October/000085.html
• http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2008:232
• http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/498498/100/0/threaded
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/31587
• http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/2745
• https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/45669

Affected products (57)

• cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:0.99.13:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:0.99.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:1.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:1.0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:1.0.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:1.0.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:1.0.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:1.0.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:1.0.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:1.0.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:1.0.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:1.0.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:1.0.beta1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:1.0.beta2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:1.0.beta3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:1.0.beta4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:1.0.beta5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:1.0.beta6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:1.0.beta7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:1.0.beta8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:1.0.beta9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:1.0.rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:1.0.rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:1.0.rc3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:1.0.rc4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:1.0.rc5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:1.0.rc6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:1.0.rc7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:1.0.rc8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:1.0.rc9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:1.0.rc10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:1.0.rc11:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:1.0.rc12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:1.0.rc13:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:1.0.rc14:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:1.0.rc15:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:1.0.rc16:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:1.0.rc17:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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