CVE-2016-4983
Description
A postinstall script in the dovecot rpm allows local users to read the contents of newly created SSL/TLS key files.
AI Insight
LLM-synthesized narrative grounded in this CVE's description and references.
Affected products
10- osv-coords8 versionspkg:rpm/opensuse/dovecot22&distro=openSUSE%20Tumbleweedpkg:rpm/suse/dovecot22&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%2012%20SP1pkg:rpm/suse/dovecot22&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%2012%20SP2pkg:rpm/suse/dovecot22&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%20for%20Raspberry%20Pi%2012%20SP2pkg:rpm/suse/dovecot22&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%20for%20SAP%20Applications%2012%20SP1pkg:rpm/suse/dovecot22&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%20for%20SAP%20Applications%2012%20SP2pkg:rpm/suse/dovecot22&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Software%20Development%20Kit%2012%20SP1pkg:rpm/suse/dovecot22&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Software%20Development%20Kit%2012%20SP2
< 2.2.27-1.1+ 7 more
- (no CPE)range: < 2.2.27-1.1
- (no CPE)range: < 2.2.13-4.1
- (no CPE)range: < 2.2.13-4.1
- (no CPE)range: < 2.2.13-4.1
- (no CPE)range: < 2.2.13-4.1
- (no CPE)range: < 2.2.13-4.1
- (no CPE)range: < 2.2.13-4.1
- (no CPE)range: < 2.2.13-4.1
- Fedora/dovecot22v5Range: dovecot22-2.2.13-3.7.1
Patches
Vulnerability mechanics
Root cause
"The postinstall script for the dovecot rpm creates SSL/TLS key files before setting restrictive file permissions."
Attack vector
A local user can read the contents of newly created SSL/TLS key files. This exposure occurs between the time the file is created and the `chmod 600` command is executed by the rpm postinstall script. The vulnerability is present in older RHEL 4 versions and later versions utilizing `/usr/libexec/dovecot/mkcert.sh` [ref_id=1].
Affected code
The vulnerability lies within the rpm postinstall scripts for the dovecot package. In older versions, this is a direct script snippet creating `/usr/share/ssl/certs/dovecot.pem` and `/usr/share/ssl/private/dovecot.pem`. Later versions utilize `/usr/libexec/dovecot/mkcert.sh` to generate `/etc/pki/dovecot/certs/dovecot.pem` and `/etc/pki/dovecot/private/dovecot.pem` [ref_id=1].
What the fix does
The advisory suggests setting `umask 077` before the file creation process to ensure that newly created files have restrictive permissions from the outset [ref_id=1]. Additionally, it recommends that secrets should be unique per instance or install, and generated at runtime rather than during package installation to prevent shared secrets across container or image instances [ref_id=1].
Preconditions
- authThe attacker must have local user access to the system where dovecot is being installed or updated.
Generated on Jun 3, 2026. Inputs: CWE entries + fix-commit diffs from this CVE's patches. Citations validated against bundle.
References
3- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2016-11/msg00096.htmlmitrex_refsource_MISC
- bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgimitrex_refsource_MISC
- bugzilla.suse.com/show_bug.cgimitrex_refsource_MISC
News mentions
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