# CVE-1999-0037: Bellcore metamail arbitrary command execution via message headers

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-0037-bellcore-metamail-arbitrary-command-execution-via-message-headers  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 1997-05-21. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-1999-0037 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.5 · Published 1997-05-21

Metamail is a utility used by email clients to handle multimedia messages and various attachments. A vulnerability in how it processes email headers allows an attacker to send a specially crafted message that executes unauthorized commands on the recipient's computer. This could lead to a complete system takeover or the theft of sensitive personal data if a user opens the malicious email.

Technologies: [Freebsd](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/freebsd), [Redhat Linux](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/linux). Vendors: [Freebsd](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/freebsd), [Redhat](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/redhat).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-1999-0037 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-1999-0037 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-1999-0037?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.5, published 21 May 1997.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Bellcore metamail.

**Is there a fix for CVE-1999-0037?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-1999-0037 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-1999-0037?** Check whether you run Freebsd or Redhat Linux. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

A command injection vulnerability exists in the metamail package due to improper sanitization of message headers. When metamail is invoked to process an incoming email, an attacker can leverage specially crafted header fields to execute arbitrary shell commands with the privileges of the user running the mail reader. This is a remote attack vector requiring the victim to open or process the malicious message. The vulnerability is triggered during the parsing phase of MIME-compliant messages. Users are advised to update to patched versions of metamail or transition to modern MIME handling utilities.

## Affected products

- Bellcore metamail

## Timeline

- 1997-05-21: disclosed: Initial publication date in NVD

## References

- [https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/CVE-1999-0037](https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/CVE-1999-0037)

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