CVE-2026-0394

dovecot: Dovecot: Information disclosure and authentication bypass via path traversal

Published Mar 27, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 5.3 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
When dovecot has been configured to use per-domain passwd files, and they are placed one path component above /etc, or slash has been added to allowed characters, path traversal can happen if the domain component is directory partial. This allows inadvertently reading /etc/passwd (or some other path which ends with passwd). If this file contains passwords, it can be used to authenticate wrongly, or if this is userdb, it can unexpectly make system users appear valid users. Upgrade to fixed version, or use different authentication scheme that does not rely on paths. Alternatively you can also ensure that the per-domain passwd files are in some other location, such as /etc/dovecot/auth/%d. No publicly available exploits are known.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4556-1 dovecot security update
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6197-1 dovecot security update
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6197-3 dovecot regression update
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8136-1 Dovecot vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8136-2 Dovecot regression
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Dovecot
Dovecot dovecot
Open-xchange dovecot
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:dovecot:dovecot:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:open-xchange:dovecot:*:*:*:*:pro:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Dovecot
Dovecot dovecot
Open-xchange dovecot
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Open-xchange
Open-xchange ox Dovecot Pro
Vendors & Products Open-xchange
Open-xchange ox Dovecot Pro
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Title Path Traversal via Per‑Domain Password Files in Open‑Xchange Dovecot dovecot: Dovecot: Information disclosure and authentication bypass via path traversal
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

threat_severity

Moderate

Type Values Removed Values Added
Title Path Traversal via Per‑Domain Password Files in Open‑Xchange Dovecot
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description When dovecot has been configured to use per-domain passwd files, and they are placed one path component above /etc, or slash has been added to allowed characters, path traversal can happen if the domain component is directory partial. This allows inadvertently reading /etc/passwd (or some other path which ends with passwd). If this file contains passwords, it can be used to authenticate wrongly, or if this is userdb, it can unexpectly make system users appear valid users. Upgrade to fixed version, or use different authentication scheme that does not rely on paths. Alternatively you can also ensure that the per-domain passwd files are in some other location, such as /etc/dovecot/auth/%d. No publicly available exploits are known.
Weaknesses CWE-22
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.3, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
OX
Published
Updated
Mar 27, 2026, 7:41 PM
Reserved
Nov 28, 2025, 9:18 AM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Mar 27, 2026, 9:16 AM
Modified
Oct 26, 2026, 9:10 PM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Mar 27, 2026, 8:10 AM