CVE catalog

CVE-2017-15705

spamassassin: CVE-2017-15705

Severity: High · CVSS 7.5CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Published: Sep 17, 2018, 12:00:00 AM UTC
Source: [NVD] · [CVE record]
EPSS: 7.88% · Oct 25, 2026

A denial of service vulnerability was identified that exists in Apache SpamAssassin before 3.4.2. The vulnerability arises with certain unclosed tags in emails that cause markup to be handled incorrectly leading to scan timeouts. In Apache SpamAssassin, using HTML::Parser, we setup an object and hook into the begin and end tag event handlers In both cases, the "open" event is immediately followed by a "close" event - even if the tag *does not* close in the HTML being parsed. Because of this, we are missing the "text" event to deal with the object normally. This can cause carefully crafted emails that might take more scan time than expected leading to a Denial of Service. The issue is possibly a bug or design decision in HTML::Parser that specifically impacts the way Apache SpamAssassin uses the module with poorly formed html. The exploit has been seen in the wild but not believed to have been purposefully part of a Denial of Service attempt. We are concerned that there may be attempts to abuse the vulnerability in the future.

Vulnerable and fixed packages

Distribution-reported package versions and fixes. These do not depend on matching against the OpenFactory package catalog.

Distribution	Package	Release	Version	Status
Debian	spamassassin	sid	`4.0.3~rc1-1`	fixed
Debian	spamassassin	forky	`4.0.2+svn1939112-1`	fixed
Debian	spamassassin	trixie	`4.0.1-5`	fixed
Debian	spamassassin	bookworm	`4.0.1-1~deb12u1`	fixed
Alpine	spamassassin	3.10	`3.4.2-r0`	fixed
Alpine	spamassassin	3.11	`3.4.2-r0`	fixed
Alpine	spamassassin	3.12	`3.4.2-r0`	fixed
Alpine	spamassassin	3.13	`3.4.2-r0`	fixed
Alpine	spamassassin	3.14	`3.4.2-r0`	fixed
Alpine	spamassassin	3.15	`3.4.2-r0`	fixed
Alpine	spamassassin	3.16	`3.4.2-r0`	fixed
Alpine	spamassassin	3.17	`3.4.2-r0`	fixed
Alpine	spamassassin	3.18	`3.4.2-r0`	fixed
Alpine	spamassassin	3.19	`3.4.2-r0`	fixed
Alpine	spamassassin	3.20	`3.4.2-r0`	fixed
Alpine	spamassassin	3.21	`3.4.2-r0`	fixed
Alpine	spamassassin	3.22	`3.4.2-r0`	fixed
Alpine	spamassassin	3.23	`3.4.2-r0`	fixed
Alpine	spamassassin	3.24	`3.4.2-r0`	fixed
Alpine	spamassassin	3.8	`3.4.3-r0`	fixed
Alpine	spamassassin	3.9	`3.4.2-r0`	fixed
Ubuntu	spamassassin	14.04	`3.3.2-6ubuntu2`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	spamassassin	14.04	`3.3.2-8ubuntu1`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	spamassassin	14.04	`3.3.2-8ubuntu2`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	spamassassin	14.04	`3.4.0-1`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	spamassassin	14.04	`3.4.0-1ubuntu1`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	spamassassin	14.04	`3.4.0-1ubuntu2`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	spamassassin	14.04	`3.4.0-1ubuntu2.1`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	spamassassin	14.04	`3.4.2-0ubuntu0.14.04.1`	fixed
Ubuntu	spamassassin	16.04	`3.4.1-1`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	spamassassin	16.04	`3.4.1-2`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	spamassassin	16.04	`3.4.1-3`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	spamassassin	16.04	`3.4.2-0ubuntu0.16.04.1`	fixed
Ubuntu	spamassassin	18.04	`3.4.1-7`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	spamassassin	18.04	`3.4.1-8`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	spamassassin	18.04	`3.4.1-8build1`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	spamassassin	18.04	`3.4.2-0ubuntu0.18.04.1`	fixed
Ubuntu	spamassassin	14.04	`3.3.2-6ubuntu2`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	spamassassin	14.04	`3.3.2-8ubuntu1`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	spamassassin	14.04	`3.3.2-8ubuntu2`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	spamassassin	14.04	`3.4.0-1`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	spamassassin	14.04	`3.4.0-1ubuntu1`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	spamassassin	14.04	`3.4.0-1ubuntu2`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	spamassassin	14.04	`3.4.0-1ubuntu2.1`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	spamassassin	14.04	`3.4.2-0ubuntu0.14.04.1`	fixed
Ubuntu	spamassassin	16.04	`3.4.1-1`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	spamassassin	16.04	`3.4.1-2`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	spamassassin	16.04	`3.4.1-3`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	spamassassin	16.04	`3.4.2-0ubuntu0.16.04.1`	fixed
Ubuntu	spamassassin	18.04	`3.4.1-7`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	spamassassin	18.04	`3.4.1-8`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	spamassassin	18.04	`3.4.1-8build1`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	spamassassin	18.04	`3.4.2-0ubuntu0.18.04.1`	fixed

Fixed-version evidence

Distribution	Package	Type	Release	Fixed version	Urgency	Origin	Bugs
Debian	spamassassin	source	sid	`3.4.2-1`	not yet assigned	Not reported	[908969]
Debian	spamassassin	source	forky	`3.4.2-1`	not yet assigned	Not reported	[908969]
Debian	spamassassin	source	trixie	`3.4.2-1`	not yet assigned	Not reported	[908969]
Debian	spamassassin	source	bookworm	`3.4.2-1`	not yet assigned	Not reported	[908969]
Alpine	spamassassin	apk	3.10	`3.4.2-r0`	Not reported	ALPINE-CVE-2017-15705	Not reported
Alpine	spamassassin	apk	3.11	`3.4.2-r0`	Not reported	ALPINE-CVE-2017-15705	Not reported
Alpine	spamassassin	apk	3.12	`3.4.2-r0`	Not reported	ALPINE-CVE-2017-15705	Not reported
Alpine	spamassassin	apk	3.13	`3.4.2-r0`	Not reported	ALPINE-CVE-2017-15705	Not reported
Alpine	spamassassin	apk	3.14	`3.4.2-r0`	Not reported	ALPINE-CVE-2017-15705	Not reported
Alpine	spamassassin	apk	3.15	`3.4.2-r0`	Not reported	ALPINE-CVE-2017-15705	Not reported
Alpine	spamassassin	apk	3.16	`3.4.2-r0`	Not reported	ALPINE-CVE-2017-15705	Not reported
Alpine	spamassassin	apk	3.17	`3.4.2-r0`	Not reported	ALPINE-CVE-2017-15705	Not reported
Alpine	spamassassin	apk	3.18	`3.4.2-r0`	Not reported	ALPINE-CVE-2017-15705	Not reported
Alpine	spamassassin	apk	3.19	`3.4.2-r0`	Not reported	ALPINE-CVE-2017-15705	Not reported
Alpine	spamassassin	apk	3.20	`3.4.2-r0`	Not reported	ALPINE-CVE-2017-15705	Not reported
Alpine	spamassassin	apk	3.21	`3.4.2-r0`	Not reported	ALPINE-CVE-2017-15705	Not reported
Alpine	spamassassin	apk	3.22	`3.4.2-r0`	Not reported	ALPINE-CVE-2017-15705	Not reported
Alpine	spamassassin	apk	3.23	`3.4.2-r0`	Not reported	ALPINE-CVE-2017-15705	Not reported
Alpine	spamassassin	apk	3.24	`3.4.2-r0`	Not reported	ALPINE-CVE-2017-15705	Not reported
Alpine	spamassassin	apk	3.8	`3.4.3-r0`	Not reported	ALPINE-CVE-2017-15705	Not reported
Alpine	spamassassin	apk	3.9	`3.4.2-r0`	Not reported	ALPINE-CVE-2017-15705	Not reported
Ubuntu	spamassassin	deb	14.04	`3.4.2-0ubuntu0.14.04.1`	Not reported	USN-3811-1	Not reported
Ubuntu	spamassassin	deb	16.04	`3.4.2-0ubuntu0.16.04.1`	Not reported	USN-3811-1	Not reported
Ubuntu	spamassassin	deb	18.04	`3.4.2-0ubuntu0.18.04.1`	Not reported	USN-3811-1	Not reported
Ubuntu	spamassassin	deb	14.04	`3.4.2-0ubuntu0.14.04.1`	Not reported	UBUNTU-CVE-2017-15705	Not reported
Ubuntu	spamassassin	deb	16.04	`3.4.2-0ubuntu0.16.04.1`	Not reported	UBUNTU-CVE-2017-15705	Not reported
Ubuntu	spamassassin	deb	18.04	`3.4.2-0ubuntu0.18.04.1`	Not reported	UBUNTU-CVE-2017-15705	Not reported

[Debian bug #908969]

OpenFactory catalog packages

[Debian 12 (Bookworm)]

[sa-compile]Fixed
Source package: [spamassassin]
Details (2)
- 4.0.1-1~deb12u1 · all · bookworm
  Fixed · Fixed: 3.4.2-1
  dsa · spamassassin · debian · bookworm; dsa · spamassassin · debian · 12
- 4.0.1-1~deb12u1 · all · bookworm
  Fixed · Fixed: 3.4.2-1
  dsa · spamassassin · debian · bookworm; dsa · spamassassin · debian · 12
[spamassassin]Fixed
Details (2)
- 4.0.1-1~deb12u1 · all · bookworm
  Fixed · Fixed: 3.4.2-1
  dsa · spamassassin · debian · bookworm; dsa · spamassassin · debian · 12
- 4.0.1-1~deb12u1 · all · bookworm
  Fixed · Fixed: 3.4.2-1
  dsa · spamassassin · debian · bookworm; dsa · spamassassin · debian · 12
[spamc]Fixed
Source package: [spamassassin]
Details (2)
- 4.0.1-1~deb12u1 · amd64 · bookworm
  Fixed · Fixed: 3.4.2-1
  dsa · spamassassin · debian · bookworm; dsa · spamassassin · debian · 12
- 4.0.1-1~deb12u1 · arm64 · bookworm
  Fixed · Fixed: 3.4.2-1
  dsa · spamassassin · debian · bookworm; dsa · spamassassin · debian · 12
[spamd]Fixed
Source package: [spamassassin]
Details (2)
- 4.0.1-1~deb12u1 · all · bookworm
  Fixed · Fixed: 3.4.2-1
  dsa · spamassassin · debian · bookworm; dsa · spamassassin · debian · 12
- 4.0.1-1~deb12u1 · all · bookworm
  Fixed · Fixed: 3.4.2-1
  dsa · spamassassin · debian · bookworm; dsa · spamassassin · debian · 12

[Debian 13 (Trixie)]

[sa-compile]Fixed
Source package: [spamassassin]
Details (2)
- 4.0.1-5 · all · trixie
  Fixed · Fixed: 3.4.2-1
  dsa · spamassassin · debian · 13
- 4.0.1-5 · all · trixie
  Fixed · Fixed: 3.4.2-1
  dsa · spamassassin · debian · 13
[spamassassin]Fixed
Details (2)
- 4.0.1-5 · all · trixie
  Fixed · Fixed: 3.4.2-1
  dsa · spamassassin · debian · 13
- 4.0.1-5 · all · trixie
  Fixed · Fixed: 3.4.2-1
  dsa · spamassassin · debian · 13
[spamc]Fixed
Source package: [spamassassin]
Details (2)
- 4.0.1-5 · amd64 · trixie
  Fixed · Fixed: 3.4.2-1
  dsa · spamassassin · debian · 13
- 4.0.1-5 · arm64 · trixie
  Fixed · Fixed: 3.4.2-1
  dsa · spamassassin · debian · 13
[spamd]Fixed
Source package: [spamassassin]
Details (2)
- 4.0.1-5 · all · trixie
  Fixed · Fixed: 3.4.2-1
  dsa · spamassassin · debian · 13
- 4.0.1-5 · all · trixie
  Fixed · Fixed: 3.4.2-1
  dsa · spamassassin · debian · 13

Observed: Oct 23, 2026, 5:27:16 PM UTC

References

[Debian Security Tracker] · [FIRST EPSS] · [OSV Package Vulnerability Database] · [Red Hat security advisories and VEX] · [SUSE security advisories and VEX]