CVE-2008-6984
CWE-287Published: August 19, 2009· Updated: Jun 16, 2026
Official Description
Plesk 8.6.0, when short mail login names (SHORTNAMES) are enabled, allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and send spam e-mail via a message with (1) a base64-encoded username that begins with a valid shortname, or (2) a username that matches a valid password, as demonstrated using (a) SMTP and qmail, and (b) Courier IMAP and POP3.
Technical Analysis
CVE-2008-6984 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.
Exploitation requires some privileges, which limits the exposure to scenarios where an attacker has already gained initial access.
From a weakness classification perspective (CWE-287): Authentication bypass vulnerabilities allow attackers to access protected resources without valid credentials.
CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown
Affected Vendors & Products
Exploit & PoC Resources
All References (10)
Quick Facts
Related CVEs (CWE-287)
Recommended Actions
- →Apply vendor patches immediately
- →Monitor CVE-2008-6984 in threat intel feeds
- →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts