Description
Exim before 4.92.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code as root via a trailing backslash.
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 | 4.92.1-3 | — |
| Debian 13 | exim4 | 4.92.1-3 | — |
| Debian 12 | exim4 | 4.92.1-3 | — |
| Debian 10 | exim4 | 4.92-8+deb10u2 | DSA-4517-1 |
| Debian 9 | exim4 | 4.89-2+deb9u6 | DSA-4517-1 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 8 | exim4 | 4.84.2-2+deb8u6 | DLA-1911-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | exim4 | 4.90.1-1ubuntu1.4 | USN-4124-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | exim4 | 4.86.2-2ubuntu2.5 | USN-4124-1 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | exim4 | 4.82-3ubuntu2.4+esm1 | USN-4124-2 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSE Package Hub 15 SP1 | exim | 4.94.2-bp151.2.4.1 | openSUSE-SU-2021:0753-1 |
| SUSE Package Hub 15 SP1 | libspf2 | 1.2.10-bp151.4.1 | openSUSE-SU-2021:0753-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | exim | 4.94.2-4.2 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10746-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.1 | exim | 4.88-lp151.4.9.1 | openSUSE-SU-2019:2093-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.0 | exim | 4.88-lp151.4.9.1 | openSUSE-SU-2019:2093-1 |
Alpine
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.24 | exim | 4.92.2-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.23 | exim | 4.92.2-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.22 | exim | 4.92.2-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.21 | exim | 4.92.2-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.20 | exim | 4.92.2-r0 | — |
Show 12 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.19 | exim | 4.92.2-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.18 | exim | 4.92.2-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.17 | exim | 4.92.2-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.16 | exim | 4.92.2-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.15 | exim | 4.92.2-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.14 | exim | 4.92.2-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.13 | exim | 4.92.2-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.12 | exim | 4.92.2-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.11 | exim | 4.92.2-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.10 | exim | 4.92.2-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.9 | exim | 4.92.2-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.8 | exim | 4.91-r2 | — |
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.
GitHub 1 repository
-
synacktiv/Exim-CVE-2019-15846 ★ 30 · Oct 9, 2019
PoC materials to exploit CVE-2019-15846
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 7
- USN-4124-1 exim4 vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- USN-4124-2 exim4 vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- DSA-4517-1 exim4 - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DLA-1911-1 exim4 - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2019:2093-1 Security update for exim SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10746-1 exim-4.94.2-4.2 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2021:0753-1 Security update for exim SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- http://exim.org/static/doc/security/CVE-2019-15846.txt
- https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2019/09/06/1
- [debian-lts-announce] 20190906 [SECURITY] [DLA 1911-1] exim4 security update mailing-list
- 20190906 [SECURITY] [DSA 4517-1] exim4 security update mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20190906 Re: CVE-2019-15846: Exim - local or remote attacker can execute programs with root privileges. mailing-list
- DSA-4517 vendor-advisory
- USN-4124-1 vendor-advisory
- VU#672565 third-party-advisory
- [oss-security] 20190906 Sv: [exim] CVE-2019-15846: Exim - local or remote attacker can execute programs with root privileges mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20190906 Re: CVE-2019-15846: Exim - local or remote attacker can execute programs with root privileges. mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20190906 Re: CVE-2019-15846: Exim - local or remote attacker can execute programs with root privileges. mailing-list
- GLSA-201909-06 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20190906 Re: Re: CVE-2019-15846: Exim - local or remote attacker can execute programs with root privileges. mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20190907 Re: Sv: [exim] CVE-2019-15846: Exim - local or remote attacker can execute programs with root privileges mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20190906 Re: Sv: [exim] CVE-2019-15846: Exim - local or remote attacker can execute programs with root privileges mailing-list
- FEDORA-2019-ae361e20c2 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2019-467fcbb10a vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20190908 Re: Re: CVE-2019-15846: Exim - local or remote attacker can execute programs with root privileges. mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20190909 Re: Sv: [exim] CVE-2019-15846: Exim - local or remote attacker can execute programs with root privileges mailing-list
- openSUSE-SU-2019:2093 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2019-1ed7bbb09c vendor-advisory
- USN-4124-2 vendor-advisory
- https://exim.org/static/doc/security/CVE-2019-15846.txt