Net::IMAP implements Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) client functionality in Ruby. Prior to versions 0.4.24, 0.5.14, and 0.6.4, Net::IMAP::ResponseReader has quadratic time complexity when reading large responses containing many string literals. A hostile server can send responses which are crafted to exhaust the client's CPU for a denial of service attack. This issue has been patched in versions 0.4.24, 0.5.14, and 0.6.4.

Attack Vector Network

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required None

Attack Requirements Present

User Interaction Passive

Vulnerable System Confidentiality Impact None

Vulnerable System Integrity Impact None

Vulnerable System Availability Impact Low

Subsequent System Confidentiality Impact None

Subsequent System Integrity Impact None

Subsequent System Availability Impact None

No CVSS v3.1

No CVSS v3.0

No CVSS v2

This CVE is not in the KEV list.

No EPSS score available.

Key SSVC decision points have not yet been added.

Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).

Vendor Product Default status Versions
ruby net-imap affected
Version Status Constraints
< 0.4.24 affected —
>= 0.5.0, < 0.5.14 affected —
>= 0.6.0, < 0.6.4 affected —

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Project Subscriptions

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Advisories
Source ID Title
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-q2mw-fvj9-vvcw net-imap has quadratic complexity when reading response literals
Fixes

Solution

No solution given by the vendor.

Workaround

No workaround given by the vendor.

References
Link Providers
https://github.com/ruby/net-imap/commit/6091f7d6b1f3514cafbfe39c76f2b5d73de3ca96 cve-icon cve-icon
https://github.com/ruby/net-imap/commit/88d95231fc8afef11c1f074453f7d75b68c9dfda cve-icon cve-icon
https://github.com/ruby/net-imap/commit/de685f91a4a4cc75eb80da898c2bf8af08d34819 cve-icon cve-icon
https://github.com/ruby/net-imap/releases/tag/v0.4.24 cve-icon cve-icon
https://github.com/ruby/net-imap/releases/tag/v0.5.14 cve-icon cve-icon
https://github.com/ruby/net-imap/releases/tag/v0.6.4 cve-icon cve-icon
https://github.com/ruby/net-imap/security/advisories/GHSA-q2mw-fvj9-vvcw cve-icon cve-icon
History

Sat, 09 May 2026 20:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Net::IMAP implements Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) client functionality in Ruby. Prior to versions 0.4.24, 0.5.14, and 0.6.4, Net::IMAP::ResponseReader has quadratic time complexity when reading large responses containing many string literals. A hostile server can send responses which are crafted to exhaust the client's CPU for a denial of service attack. This issue has been patched in versions 0.4.24, 0.5.14, and 0.6.4.
Title net-imap: Quadratic complexity when reading response literals
Weaknesses CWE-407
References
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 2.3, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'}

Projects

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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: GitHub_M

Published:

Updated: 2026-05-09T19:37:08.905Z

Reserved: 2026-04-25T05:37:12.118Z

Link: CVE-2026-42245

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-05-09T20:16:28.017

Modified: 2026-05-09T20:16:28.017

Link: CVE-2026-42245

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-05-09T21:30:42Z

Weaknesses