In Apache James server prior version 3.9.1 relying on the SieveFileRepository incorect validation of file paths can result in path transversal, allowing to set arbitrary SIEVE scripts for other users. This allows a logged in attacker to set arbitrary SIEVE scripts for other users, resulting in denial of service or even traffic capture. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 3.9.1 which fixes this issue.
Some docker-compose shipped by the project exposes by default Webadmin REST API publically without proper authentication setup. Version 3.9.1 onward sets a random credential by default on unprotected webadmin endpoints to prevent this while retain convenience.
In Apache James server prior version 3.9.1 improper Access Control List processing is exposed by the JMAP protocol which do not account for negative rules positionned by IMAP protocol.
This results in users being able to administer folders in JMAP despite having being explicitly denied the right to do so in IMAP.
Users are recommended to upgrade to version 3.9.1 which fixes this issue.
Apache James SASL OAuthBearer/XOAUTH2 prior versions 3.9.1 fails to validate correctly AUD claim of JWT payloads when introspection is not configured.
This allows an attacker with valid credentials to access the mail server even if they are not authorized to do so.
We recommend users to upgrade to non vulnerable version that forces explicit configuration of aud claims and forces introspection.
Severity: CVSS 4.0: 8.7 (high) CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
Affected versions:
- Apache James before 3.9.1
Description:
Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling in Apache James Mime4J library prior version 0.8.15 allows Denial of Service upon parsing Mime messages. Users are recommended to upgrade to Apache James server 3.9.1 that relies on fixed MIME4J 0.8.15 which addresses the issue.
See CVE-2026-85108 in Apache James MIME4J library.
Credit:
Mike Read (finder)
References:
https://james.apache.org/ https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-85111
Severity: low
Affected versions:
- Apache James 3.9.0 before 3.9.1
Description:
In Apache James server prior version 3.9.1 improper validation in JMAP webPush SSRF validation did lead to the possibility to reach internal addresses. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 3.9.1 which fixes this issue.
Credit:
n0mi1k (finder)
References:
https://james.apache.org/ https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-76171
Severity: important
Affected versions:
- Apache James before 3.9.1
Description:
In Apache James server prior version 3.9.1 relying on the SieveFileRepository incorect validation of file paths can result in path transversal, allowing to set arbitrary SIEVE scripts for other users. This allows a logged in attacker to set arbitrary SIEVE scripts for other users, resulting in denial of service or even traffic capture. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 3.9.1 which fixes this issue.
Credit:
n0mi1k Security (finder)
References:
https://james.apache.org/ https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-76168
Severity: low
Affected versions:
- Apache James before 3.9.1
Description:
Some docker-compose shipped by the project exposes by default Webadmin REST API publically without proper authentication setup. Version 3.9.1 onward sets a random credential by default on unprotected webadmin endpoints to prevent this while retain convenience.
Credit:
Wanxin Yin (finder)
References:
https://james.apache.org/ https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-74756
Severity: moderate
Affected versions:
- Apache James 3.9.0 before 3.9.1
Description:
In Apache James server prior version 3.9.1 improper Access Control List processing is exposed by the JMAP protocol which do not account for negative rules positionned by IMAP protocol.
This results in users being able to administer folders in JMAP despite having being explicitly denied the right to do so in IMAP.
Users are recommended to upgrade to version 3.9.1 which fixes this issue.
Credit:
Thanks mitchell from revampstudio.com.au for the report (finder)
References:
https://james.apache.org/ https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-49939
Severity: moderate
Affected versions:
- Apache James 3.9.0 before 3.9.1
Description:
Apache James SASL OAuthBearer/XOAUTH2 prior versions 3.9.1 fails to validate correctly AUD claim of JWT payloads when introspection is not configured.
This allows an attacker with valid credentials to access the mail server even if they are not authorized to do so.
We recommend users to upgrade to non vulnerable version that forces explicit configuration of aud claims and forces introspection.
Credit:
The Apache James PMC would like to thanks Felix Auringer for this report (finder)
References:
https://james.apache.org/ https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-66621
Apache James server JMAP HTML to text plain implementation in versions below 3.8.2 and 3.7.6 is subject to unbounded memory consumption that can result in a denial of service.
Users are recommended to upgrade to version 3.7.6 and 3.8.2, which fix this issue.
Similarly to CVE-2024-34055, Apache James is vulnerable to denial of service through the abuse of IMAP literals from both authenticated and unauthenticated users, which could be used to cause unbounded memory allocation and very long computations
Version 3.7.6 and 3.8.2 restrict such illegitimate use of IMAP literals.
Affected versions:
- Apache James server 3.8.0 through 3.8.1 - Apache James server through 3.7.5
Description:
Apache James server JMAP HTML to text plain implementation in versions below 3.8.2 and 3.7.6 is subject to unbounded memory consumption that can result in a denial of service.
Users are recommended to upgrade to version 3.7.6 and 3.8.2, which fix this issue.
Credit:
Benoit TELLIER (finder) Wojciech Kapcia (finder)
References:
https://james.apache.org/ https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-45626
Affected versions:
- Apache James server through 3.7.5 - Apache James server 3.8.0 through 3.8.1
Description:
Similarly to CVE-2024-34055, Apache James is vulnerable to denial of service through the abuse of IMAP literals from both authenticated and unauthenticated users, which could be used to cause unbounded memory allocation and very long computations
Version 3.7.6 and 3.8.2 restrict such illegitimate use of IMAP literals.
Credit:
Xavier GUIMARD (reporter) Benoit TELLIER (coordinator)
References:
https://james.apache.org/ https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-37358
Severity: low
Affected versions:
- Apache James Mime4J through 0.8.9
Description:
Improper input validation allows for header injection in MIME4J library when using MIME4J DOM for composing message. This can be exploited by an attacker to add unintended headers to MIME messages.
Credit:
Benoit TELLIER (finder)
References:
https://james.apache.org/ https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-21742
Apache James prior to versions 3.8.1 and 3.7.5 is vulnerable to SMTP smuggling.
A lenient behaviour in line delimiter handling might create a difference of interpretation between the sender and the receiver which can be exploited by an attacker to forge an SMTP envelop, allowing for instance to bypass SPF checks.
The patch implies enforcement of CRLF as a line delimiter as part of the DATA transaction.
We recommend James users to upgrade to non vulnerable versions.
Severity: important
Affected versions:
- Apache James server through 3.7.4 - Apache James server 3.8 through 3.8.0
Description:
Apache James prior to versions 3.8.1 and 3.7.5 is vulnerable to SMTP smuggling.
A lenient behaviour in line delimiter handling might create a difference of interpretation between the sender and the receiver which can be exploited by an attacker to forge an SMTP envelop, allowing for instance to bypass SPF checks.
The patch implies enforcement of CRLF as a line delimiter as part of the DATA transaction.
We recommend James users to upgrade to non vulnerable versions.
Credit:
Benoit TELLIER (coordinator)
References:
https://sec-consult.com/blog/detail/smtp-smuggling-spoofing-e-mails-worldwide/ https://postfix.org/smtp-smuggling.html https://james.apache.org/ https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-51747
Apache James prior to version 3.7.5 and 3.8.0 exposes a JMX endpoint on localhost subject to pre-authentication deserialisation of untrusted data. Given a deserialisation gadjet, this could be leveraged as part of an exploit chain that could result in privilege escalation. Note that by default JMX endpoint is only bound locally.
We recommend users to: - Upgrade to a non-vulnerable Apache James version
- Run Apache James isolated from other processes (docker - dedicated virtual machine) - If possible turn off JMX
Severity: low
Affected versions:
- Apache James server through 3.7.4 - Apache James server 3.8 through 3.8.0
Description:
Apache James prior to version 3.7.5 and 3.8.0 exposes a JMX endpoint on localhost subject to pre-authentication deserialisation of untrusted data. Given a deserialisation gadjet, this could be leveraged as part of an exploit chain that could result in privilege escalation. Note that by default JMX endpoint is only bound locally.
We recommend users to: - Upgrade to a non-vulnerable Apache James version
- Run Apache James isolated from other processes (docker - dedicated virtual machine) - If possible turn off JMX
Credit:
Mal Aware (reporter) Arnout Engelen (analyst)
References:
https://james.apache.org/ https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-51518
Apache James server version 3.7.3 and earlier provides a JMX management service without authentication by default. This allows privilege escalation by a malicious local user.
Administrators are advised to disable JMX, or set up a JMX password.
Note that version 3.7.4 onward will set up a JMX password automatically for Guice users.
Usage of temporary files with insecure permissions by the Apache James server allows an attacker with local access to access private user data in transit.
Vulnerable components includes the SMTP stack and IMAP APPEND command.
This issue affects Apache James server version 3.7.2 and prior versions.
A flaw was found in Apache James's Mime4j TempFileStorageProvider class, where it may set improper permissions when utilizing temporary files. This flaw allows a locally authorized attacker to access information outside their intended permissions.
Apache James prior to release 3.6.3 and 3.7.1 is vulnerable to a buffering attack relying on the use of the STARTTLS command. Fix of CVE-2021-38542, which solved similar problem fron Apache James 3.6.1, is subject to a parser differential and do not take into account concurrent requests.
Fix of CVE-2021-40525 do not prepend delimiters upon valid directory validations. Affected implementations include: - maildir mailbox store - Sieve file repository This enables a user to access other users data stores (limited to user names being prefixed by the value of the username being used).
Apache James ManagedSieve implementation alongside with the file storage for sieve scripts is vulnerable to path traversal, allowing reading and writing any file. This vulnerability had been patched in Apache James 3.6.1 and higher. We recommend the upgrade. Distributed and Cassandra based products are also not impacted.
In Apache James, while fuzzing with Jazzer the IMAP parsing stack, we discover that crafted APPEND and STATUS IMAP command could be used to trigger infinite loops resulting in expensive CPU computations and OutOfMemory exceptions. This can be used for a Denial Of Service attack. The IMAP user needs to be authenticated to exploit this vulnerability. This affected Apache James prior to version 3.6.1. This vulnerability had been patched in Apache James 3.6.1 and higher. We recommend the upgrade.
In Apache James, using Jazzer fuzzer, we identified that an IMAP user can craft IMAP LIST commands to orchestrate a Denial Of Service using a vulnerable Regular expression. This affected Apache James prior to 3.6.1 We recommend upgrading to Apache James 3.6.1 or higher , which enforce the use of RE2J regular expression engine to execute regex in linear time without back-tracking.
Apache James prior to release 3.6.1 is vulnerable to a buffering attack relying on the use of the STARTTLS command. This can result in Man-in -the-middle command injection attacks, leading potentially to leakage of sensible information.
Apache PDFBox 2.0.14 does not properly initialize the XML parser, which allows context-dependent attackers to conduct XML External Entity (XXE) attacks via a crafted XFDF.
The SMTP server in Apache Java Mail Enterprise Server (aka Apache James) 2.2.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU consumption) via a long argument to the MAIL command.