[Dovecot] runaway imap processes

[rpyne at kinfolk.org]

I am running dovecot (1.2.3) with postfix (2.6.3), postfixadmin 
(2.1.0), maia mailguard (1.0.2) and squirrelmail (1.4.19) on Linux 
(kernel 2.6.27.8). 

I have an ongoing problem with imap processes that hang and eat all 
available cpu. I try killing them and they won't die. The only way to 
get rid of them is to reboot the server.

Any help with this will be greatly appreciated. I really need to get 
this solved as it has been an ongoing problem for more than a year.