CVE-2003-0966: Buffer overflow in the frm command in elm 2.5.6 and earlier, and possibly later versions, allows remote att...

Security readout for executives and security teams

CVE-2003-0966 is an old buffer overflow in the elm mail utility’s frm command. A specially long email Subject line could allow arbitrary code execution when processed by a vulnerable version. Business urgency depends on whether elm or frm still exists on systems, especially legacy Unix/Linux servers handling untrusted mail. Exposure is most likely on legacy Unix/Linux environments where elm, specifically frm, remains installed and processes mailbox content from untrusted senders. Modern systems are unlikely to be affected unless they retain old elm packages for compatibility or scripts. Prioritize discovery in legacy server estates. If elm/frm is absent, risk is negligible. If present and exposed to untrusted mail, remediate promptly because the stated impact is arbitrary code execution. Mitigation focus: Identify whether elm or frm is installed on any managed systems.; Review Red Hat and SGI advisories for applicable vendor fixes.; Remove elm/frm where no business requirement exists..

Prepared

Jul 11, 2026, 23:17 UTC (UTC+00:00)

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.