CVE-2022-28220Network attack vector

Credential disclosure via concurrent STARTTLS command injection

Published Sep 8, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Command injection in Apache James Server before 3.6.3 and in 3.7.0 allows man-in-the-middle attackers to read credentials via STARTTLS. The line framer accepts concurrent plaintext commands while a STARTTLS upgrade is in flight, and IMAP tag parsing differs from injection detection. SMTP requires no account, IMAP requires a local account, and POP3 injection can alter data; interception of the connection is required.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability1.98%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Command injection in Apache James Server before 3.6.3 and in 3.7.0 allows man-in-the-middle attackers to read credentials via STARTTLS. The line framer accepts concurrent plaintext commands while a STARTTLS upgrade is in flight, and IMAP tag parsing differs from injection detection. SMTP requires no account, IMAP requires a local account, and POP3 injection can alter data; interception of the connection is required.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-28220
Published
Sep 8, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
The Apache Software Foundation
Product
Apache James Server
Classifications
CWE-77, T1557
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 8, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=Apache James <=3.6.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Apache Software Foundation · Apache James Serverversion=Apache James <=3.6.2

Published CVSS scores

7.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-77Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')
T1557Adversary-in-the-Middle

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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