Description
Exim before 4.86.2, when installed setuid root, allows local users to gain privileges via the perl_startup argument.
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 | 4.86.2-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | exim4 | 4.86.2-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | exim4 | 4.86.2-1 | — |
| Debian 8 | exim4 | 4.84.2-1 | DSA-3517-1 |
| Debian 7 | exim4 | 4.80-7+deb7u2 | DSA-3517-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | exim4 | 4.82-3ubuntu2.1 | USN-2933-1 |
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
-
Exim "perl_startup" Privilege Escalation
exploit/unix/local/exim_perl_startup
Exploit-DB 3
- Exim - 'perl_startup' Local Privilege Escalation (Metasploit) EDB-39702 · local · Apr 15, 2016 · verified
- Exim < 4.86.2 - Local Privilege Escalation EDB-39549 · local · Mar 10, 2016 · verified
- Exim 4.84-3 - Local Privilege Escalation EDB-39535 · local · Mar 9, 2016 · verified
GitHub 1 repository
-
h3x0v3rl0rd/CVE-2016-1531 ★ 0 · Mar 17, 2023
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 3
- USN-2933-1 exim4 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- DSA-3517-1 exim4 - security update 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
- DSA-3517 vendor-advisory
- 39535 exploit
- 1035512 vdb-entry
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/136124/Exim-4.84-3-Local-Root-Privilege-Escalation.html
- openSUSE-SU-2016:0721 vendor-advisory
- 39702 exploit
- USN-2933-1 vendor-advisory
- http://www.exim.org/static/doc/CVE-2016-1531.txt
- http://www.rapid7.com/db/modules/exploit/unix/local/exim_perl_startup
- 39549 exploit