CVE-2009-5121: Websense Email Security 7.1 before Hotfix 4 allows remote attackers to bypass the sender-based blacklist by...

Security readout for executives and security teams

This issue affects Websense Email Security 7.1 before Hotfix 4. A remote sender could bypass sender-based blacklist filtering by altering SMTP session behavior. Business risk is unwanted or blocked mail reaching users if an organization still runs this legacy gateway and relies on sender blacklists. Exposure is most likely limited to organizations still operating Websense Email Security 7.1 before Hotfix 4 in their inbound or relay mail path, especially where sender-based blacklists are used as an enforcement control. Prioritize this where legacy Websense Email Security 7.1 remains in production. It is not supported by evidence of active exploitation here, but email-filter bypasses can weaken anti-abuse controls and should be remediated during legacy mail-gateway review. Mitigation focus: Upgrade Websense Email Security 7.1 to Hotfix 4 or a later vendor-supported build.; Verify current Forcepoint/Websense guidance for legacy support or migration options.; Review sender blacklist policies and avoid relying on them as the only mail control..

Prepared

Jun 27, 2026, 16:56 UTC (UTC+00:00)

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