Apache James IMAP parsing Denial Of Service

published 2022-01-04 4 y ago modified 2026-09-10 1 mo ago also GHSA-fqgw-6qj5-8hmp , EUVD-2022-0588

cvss: 6.5; version 3.1, NVD
cisa kev: Not listed; not in CISA's catalog
epss: 2.2%; EPSS 2.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 82%
public exploits: 0; none known

In Apache James, while fuzzing with Jazzer the IMAP parsing stack, we discover that crafted APPEND and STATUS IMAP command could be used to trigger infinite loops resulting in expensive CPU computations and OutOfMemory exceptions. This can be used for a Denial Of Service attack. The IMAP user needs to be authenticated to exploit this vulnerability. This affected Apache James prior to version 3.6.1. This vulnerability had been patched in Apache James 3.6.1 and higher. We recommend the upgrade.

Patch / fix

fixed in 2

maven org.apache.james:james-server 3.6.1
apache james 3.6.1

Exploit prediction

2.19% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 82% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-08).

CVSS scores

assigned by	version	score	vector
NVD	3.1	6.5	CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
NVD	2.0	4.0	AV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:N/I:N/A:P

Affected packages

ecosystem	package	affected	fixed in
maven	org.apache.james:james-server	<3.6.1	3.6.1

Affected products

Apache Software Foundation Apache James

Classification

Weakness

CWE-835 Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition

References

openwall.com /lists/oss-security/2022/01/04/3
web, mailing-list, third-party-advisory
openwall.com /lists/oss-security/2022/01/04/3
mailing-list, web, third-party-advisory
nvd.nist.gov /vuln/detail/CVE-2021-40111
advisory

Sources

Fencer Vulns keeps one entry per vulnerability: the CVE id wins, then GHSA, and records that alias each other are merged, except that two CVEs always keep separate entries. The same data is available as JSON.

Summary