CVE-2026-40016

dovecot: Dovecot: Denial of Service due to Sieve script CPU limit bypass

Published May 12, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 5.3 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
Attacker can upload a malicious Sieve script over ManageSieve service (or locally) to bypass configured CPU time limits for Sieve up to 130 times of the configured limit. Attacker can use this to degrade server performance and bypass configured CPU time limits for Sieve scripts. Install fixed version, or alternatively prevent direct access to Sieve scripts via ManageSieve or local access. No publicly available exploits are known.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

Sign in to view the affected projects.

Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6313-1 dovecot security update
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8365-1 Dovecot vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Title CPU Time Limit Bypass for Sieve Scripts in Open‑Xchange OX Dovecot Pro dovecot: Dovecot: Denial of Service due to Sieve script CPU limit bypass
Weaknesses CWE-770
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

threat_severity

Moderate

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
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Title CPU Time Limit Bypass for Sieve Scripts in Open‑Xchange OX Dovecot Pro
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Attacker can upload a malicious Sieve script over ManageSieve service (or locally) to bypass configured CPU time limits for Sieve up to 130 times of the configured limit. Attacker can use this to degrade server performance and bypass configured CPU time limits for Sieve scripts. Install fixed version, or alternatively prevent direct access to Sieve scripts via ManageSieve or local access. No publicly available exploits are known.
Weaknesses CWE-400
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

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

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
OX
Published
Updated
May 12, 2026, 3:38 PM
Reserved
Apr 8, 2026, 9:59 AM
Status
Analyzed
Published
May 12, 2026, 2:17 PM
Modified
Oct 26, 2026, 6:10 PM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
May 12, 2026, 1:28 PM