Description
Exim 4.92 through 4.92.2 allows remote code execution, a different vulnerability than CVE-2019-15846. There is a heap-based buffer overflow in string_vformat in string.c involving a long EHLO command.
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 | 4.92.2-3 | — |
| Debian 13 | exim4 | 4.92.2-3 | — |
| Debian 12 | exim4 | 4.92.2-3 | — |
| Debian 10 | exim4 | 4.92-8+deb10u3 | DSA-4536-1 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSE Package Hub 15 SP2 | exim | 4.94.2-bp152.6.4.1 | openSUSE-SU-2021:0754-1 |
| SUSE Package Hub 15 SP2 | libspf2 | 1.2.10-bp152.5.1 | openSUSE-SU-2021:0754-1 |
| 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 15.2 | exim | 4.94.2-lp152.8.3.1 | openSUSE-SU-2021:0677-1 |
Alpine
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.24 | exim | 4.92.2-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.23 | exim | 4.92.2-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.22 | exim | 4.92.2-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.21 | exim | 4.92.2-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.20 | exim | 4.92.2-r1 | — |
Show 11 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.19 | exim | 4.92.2-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.18 | exim | 4.92.2-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.17 | exim | 4.92.2-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.16 | exim | 4.92.2-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.15 | exim | 4.92.2-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.14 | exim | 4.92.2-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.13 | exim | 4.92.2-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.12 | exim | 4.92.2-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.11 | exim | 4.92.2-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.10 | exim | 4.92.2-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.9 | exim | 4.92.3-r0 | — |
Advisories 5
- DSA-4536-1 exim4 - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2021:0754-1 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-2021:0677-1 Security update for exim SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2021:0753-1 Security update for exim SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- https://lists.exim.org/lurker/message/20190927.032457.c1044d4c.en.html
- https://bugs.exim.org/show_bug.cgi?id=2449
- https://git.exim.org/exim.git/commit/478effbfd9c3cc5a627fc671d4bf94d13670d65f
- [oss-security] 20190928 Exim CVE-2019-16928 RCE using a heap-based buffer overflow mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20190928 Re: Exim CVE-2019-16928 RCE using a heap-based buffer overflow mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20190928 Re: Exim CVE-2019-16928 RCE using a heap-based buffer overflow mailing-list
- DSA-4536 vendor-advisory
- USN-4141-1 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20190929 Re: Exim CVE-2019-16928 RCE using a heap-based buffer overflow mailing-list
- 20190929 [SECURITY] [DSA 4536-1] exim4 security update mailing-list
- FEDORA-2019-006dfc94cd vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2019-e080507ba5 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2019-d778bd4137 vendor-advisory
- GLSA-202003-47 vendor-advisory