Description
Format string vulnerability in daemon.c for Exim 4.x through 4.10, and 3.x through 3.36, allows exim administrative users to execute arbitrary code by modifying the pid_file_path value.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | exim4 | 4.11-0.0.1 | — |
| Debian 13 | exim4 | 4.11-0.0.1 | — |
| Debian 12 | exim4 | 4.11-0.0.1 | — |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Exploit-DB 1
- Exim Internet Mailer 3.35/3.36/4.10 - Format String EDB-22066 · local · Dec 4, 2002 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
References
- exim-daemonc-format-string(10761) vdb-entry
- 6314 vdb-entry
- 20021204 Local root vulnerability found in exim 4.x (and 3.x) mailing-list
- GLSA-200212-5 vendor-advisory
- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/exim-users/message/42358
- [Exim] 20021204 Minor security problem in both Exim 3 and 4 mailing-list