---
title: "CVE-2012-2124\n    | Ubuntu"
description: Ubuntu is an open source software operating system that runs from the
  desktop, to the cloud, to all your internet connected things.
url: https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2012-2124?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2012-2124

Publication date 18 January 2013

Last updated 4 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Low**

[Why this priority?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#priority )

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## Description

functions/imap\_general.php in SquirrelMail, as used in Red Hat Enterprise
Linux (RHEL) 4 and 5, does not properly handle 8-bit characters in
passwords, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (disk
consumption) by making many IMAP login attempts with different usernames,
leading to the creation of many preference files. NOTE: this issue exists
because of an incorrect fix for CVE-2010-2813.

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2012-2124?format=md#notes)

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| squirrelmail | 12.04 LTS precise | Not affected |
| 11.10 oneiric | Not affected |
| 11.04 natty | Not affected |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not affected |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Not affected |

---

* [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)
* [What do statuses mean?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#statuses)

## Notes

---

### [tyhicks](https://launchpad.net/~tyhicks)

Red Hat specific - ignoring.

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2012-2124)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-2124)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2012-2124)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2012-2124)

### Other references

* <http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2012/04/20>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2012-2124>