Vulnerability Description
aiosmtplib is an asynchronous SMTP client for use with asyncio. Prior to 5.1.2, SMTPProtocol.start_tls in src/aiosmtplib/protocol.py consumes the server's 220 response and starts the TLS handshake without clearing SMTPProtocol._buffer. An active network attacker can place attacker-chosen SMTP response lines after the plaintext 220 response in the same network segment. The method then calls loop.start_tls; those bytes survive the transport upgrade and are parsed as the first response from inside the TLS session, desynchronizing subsequent SMTP command and response pairs. Connections using start_tls=True or opportunistic STARTTLS are affected, while connections using use_tls=True are not. This issue is fixed in version 5.1.2.
CVSS Score
MEDIUM
Related Weaknesses (CWE)
References
- https://github.com/cole/aiosmtplib/commit/9fab7ba1361dbf7622ede1315a24be805cff09
- https://github.com/cole/aiosmtplib/releases/tag/v5.1.2
- https://github.com/cole/aiosmtplib/security/advisories/GHSA-vxj7-4xrp-5vr4
FAQ
What is CVE-2026-55558?
CVE-2026-55558 is a vulnerability with a CVSS score of 5.9 (MEDIUM). aiosmtplib is an asynchronous SMTP client for use with asyncio. Prior to 5.1.2, SMTPProtocol.start_tls in src/aiosmtplib/protocol.py consumes the server's 220 response and starts the TLS handshake wit...
How severe is CVE-2026-55558?
CVE-2026-55558 has been rated MEDIUM with a CVSS base score of 5.9/10. Review the CVSS metrics above for detailed severity breakdown.
Is there a patch for CVE-2026-55558?
Check the references section above for vendor advisories and patch information. Review vendor security bulletins for remediation guidance.