Description
Exim 4.72 and earlier allows local users to gain privileges by leveraging the ability of the exim user account to specify an alternate configuration file with a directive that contains arbitrary commands, as demonstrated by the spool_directory directive.
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 | 4.72-3 | — |
| Debian 13 | exim4 | 4.72-3 | — |
| Debian 12 | exim4 | 4.72-3 | — |
| Debian 5.0 | exim4 | 4.69-9+lenny3 | DSA-2154-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 5 | exim +2 | 4.63-5.el5_6.2 | RHSA-2011:0153 |
| RHEL 4 | exim +3 | 4.43-1.RHEL4.5.el4_8.3 | RHSA-2011:0153 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | exim | 4.86.2-2.2 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10017-1 |
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.
Metasploit 1 module
-
Exim4 string_format Function Heap Buffer Overflow
exploit/unix/smtp/exim4_string_format
Exploit-DB 1
- Exim4 < 4.69 - string_format Function Heap Buffer Overflow (Metasploit) EDB-16925 · remote · Dec 16, 2010 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 3
- RHSA-2011:0153 Red Hat Security Advisory: exim security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-2154-1 exim4 - privilege escalation Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10017-1 exim-4.86.2-2.2 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 7, 2025
References
- 43128 third-party-advisory
- SUSE-SA:2010:059 vendor-advisory
- [exim-dev] 20101209 Re: [Exim-maintainers] Remote root vulnerability in Exim mailing-list
- VU#758489 third-party-advisory
- [exim-dev] 20101207 Remote root vulnerability in Exim mailing-list
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=662012
- ADV-2011-0364 vdb-entry
- http://www.metasploit.com/modules/exploit/unix/smtp/exim4_string_format
- RHSA-2011:0153 vendor-advisory
- 45341 vdb-entry
- 42930 third-party-advisory
- 42576 third-party-advisory
- 43243 third-party-advisory
- 1024859 vdb-entry
- [exim-dev] 20101210 Re: Remote root vulnerability in Exim mailing-list
- DSA-2154 vendor-advisory
- 20101213 Exim security issue in historical release mailing-list
- http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/12/11/exim_code_execution_peril/
- ADV-2011-0245 vdb-entry
- ADV-2011-0135 vdb-entry
- USN-1060-1 vendor-advisory
- ADV-2010-3204 vdb-entry
- http://bugs.exim.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1044
- DSA-2131 vendor-advisory
- ADV-2010-3171 vdb-entry
- http://www.cpanel.net/2010/12/critical-exim-security-update.html
- [oss-security] 20101210 Exim remote root mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20210504 21Nails: Multiple vulnerabilities in Exim mailing-list