CVE-2023-26490

What it is

mailcow is a dockerized email package, with multiple containers linked in one bridged network. The Sync Job feature - which can be made available to standard users by assigning them the necessary permission - suffers from a shell command injection. A malicious user can abuse this vulnerability to obtain shell access to the Docker container running dovecot. The imapsync Perl script implements all the necessary functionality for this feature, including the XOAUTH2 authentication mechanism. This code path creates a shell command to call openssl. However, since different parts of the specified user password are included without any validation, one can simply execute additional shell commands. Notably, the default ACL for a newly-created mailcow account does not include the necessary permission. The Issue has been fixed within the 2023-03 Update (March 3rd 2023). As a temporary workaround the Syncjob ACL can be removed from all mailbox users, preventing from creating or changing existing Syncjobs.

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited over the network without logging in. Limited direct impact.

Exploit odds

2.2% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).

Fix

A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

1. 2023-03-04 00:15 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-06-17 05:43 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

• Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
• Exploit odds: 2.2% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
• Severity: 7.3 HIGH (CVSS).
• Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published

2023-03-04 00:15 UTC

Last modified

2026-06-17 05:43 UTC

Exploit probability

2.2% · EPSS, next 30 days

Weakness

CWE-78 · OS command injection

Record status

Modified

Affected

• Mailcow mailcow\ < 2023-03

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 7.3

Attack vector

Network

Complexity

Low

Privileges needed

None

User interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

Low

Integrity

Low

Availability

Low

Is it in your code?

Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.

Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2023-26490.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2023-26490. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.

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