CVE-2008-3889

Postfix <2.4.9, 2.5 <2.5.5, 2.6 <2.6-20080902 - DoS

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 1 public exploit for CVE-2008-3889. PoCs published by Albert Sellares.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This exploit targets a vulnerability in Postfix (CVE-2008-4042) by creating a pipe and adding it to Postfix's epoll file descriptor, causing a denial-of-service (DoS) via an endless event loop. It requires execution via a .forward file to trigger the vulnerability.

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.

Exploits (1)

exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by Albert Sellares · cdosmultiple
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/6472

This exploit targets a vulnerability in Postfix (CVE-2008-4042) by creating a pipe and adding it to Postfix's epoll file descriptor, causing a denial-of-service (DoS) via an endless event loop. It requires execution via a .forward file to trigger the vulnerability.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Dos
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Postfix 2.4 before 2.4.9, 2.5 before 2.5.5, and 2.6 before 2.6-20080902
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Access to a user's .forward file · Postfix running on a Linux 2.6 kernel
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

References (22)

Core 22
Core References
Third Party Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/31986
Third Party Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/32231
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry mailing-list x_refsource_bugtraq
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/496420/100/0/threaded
Third Party Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/31982
Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_ubuntu
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/usn-642-1
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_bid
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/30977
Third Party Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/31800
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_xf
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/44865
Third Party Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_sreason
http://securityreason.com/securityalert/4239
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_gentoo
http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200809-09.xml
Various Sources x_refsource_misc
http://www.wekk.net/research/CVE-2008-3889/
Vendor Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/31716
Exploit, Third Party Advisory exploit x_refsource_exploit-db
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/6472
Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_mandriva
http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2008:190
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_sectrack
http://securitytracker.com/id?1020800
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry mailing-list x_refsource_bugtraq
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/498037/100/0/threaded
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry mailing-list x_refsource_bugtraq
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/495894/100/0/threaded
Third Party Advisory x_refsource_confirm
http://wiki.rpath.com/wiki/Advisories:rPSA-2008-0311

Scores

EPSS 0.0071
EPSS Percentile 48.4%

Details

CWE
CWE-20
Status published
Products (14)
postfix/postfix 2.4
postfix/postfix 2.4.0
postfix/postfix 2.4.1
postfix/postfix 2.4.2
postfix/postfix 2.4.3
postfix/postfix 2.4.4
postfix/postfix 2.4.5
postfix/postfix 2.4.6
postfix/postfix 2.4.7
postfix/postfix 2.4.8
... and 4 more
Published Sep 12, 2008
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026