CVE-2019-15846Exim Memory Corruption
Exim before 4.92.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code as root via a trailing backslash.
Published Sep 6, 2019 · Updated Oct 20, 2026 · Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2019-15846, DLA-1911-1, DSA-4517-1, UBUNTU-CVE-2019-15846, USN-4124-1, USN-4124-2
Key Facts
Patch immediately- CVE-2019-15846 is a critical-severity vulnerability (CVSS 9.8 v3.1) affecting Exim, Debian Linux, exim4 (debian) and 9 more products.
- It is exploited in the wild, listed in Industry KEV feed since Feb 8, 2024. No public exploit code is known.
- EPSS estimates a 36% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- Fixed versions are available, including Exim 4.88-lp151.4.9.1, Exim 4.91-r2, Exim 4.92-1.24.amzn1.
- Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.
Scores
CVSS v3.1
9.8
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS (30-day exploit likelihood)
36%
Higher than 98.4% of all scored CVEs
Exploit maturity
Exploited (KEV)
ATLAS score
58/100
Publication score, see How it works
Exploitation Verdict
KEV listed
Feb 8, 2024
1616 days after publication
Federal due date
None
No federal due date
Ransomware use
Not reported
Attributed actors
None named
Exploit & Defence Guidance
Exploit maturity
Exploited (KEV)
Public exploit code
0
Proof-of-concept links
In-the-wild evidence
1
Reports of active use
Advisories And Exploit References
- advisoryhttp://exim.org/static/doc/security/CVE-2019-15846.txt
- advisoryhttps://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2019-15846
- advisoryhttps://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2019-15846
- advisoryhttps://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-15846
- advisoryhttps://www.exim.org/static/doc/security/CVE-2019-15846.txt
- advisoryhttps://launchpad.net/bugs/1843041
Description
Exim before 4.92.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code as root via a trailing backslash.
Known-Exploited Catalog Listings
| Catalog | Added | Remediation due | Ransomware use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Industry KEV feed | Feb 8, 2024 | n/a | Not reported |
Affected Products
57 affected entries in total| Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| EximExim | See advisory | 4.92.2 |
| Debian LinuxDebian | 10.0, 8.0, 9.0 | n/a |
| exim4debian | See advisory | 4.92.1-3 |
| exim-greylistamazon | See advisory | 4.92-1.24.amzn1 |
| exim-monamazon | See advisory | 4.92-1.24.amzn1 |
Patched Releases
Exim
4.88-lp151.4.9.1, 4.91-r2, 4.92-1.24.amzn1, 4.92.2-1, 4.92.2-r0, 4.94.2-4.2, 4.94.2-bp151.2.4.1, 4.92.2
exim-greylist
4.92-1.24.amzn1
exim-mon
4.92-1.24.amzn1
exim-mysql
4.92-1.24.amzn1
exim-pgsql
4.92-1.24.amzn1
exim4
4.82-3ubuntu2.4+esm1, 4.84.2-2+deb8u6, 4.86.2-2ubuntu2.5, 4.89-2+deb9u6, 4.90.1-1ubuntu1.4, 4.92-8+deb10u2, 4.92.1-3
eximon
4.88-lp151.4.9.1, 4.94.2-4.2, 4.94.2-bp151.2.4.1
eximstats-html
4.88-lp151.4.9.1, 4.94.2-4.2, 4.94.2-bp151.2.4.1
libspf2-2
1.2.10-bp151.4.1
libspf2-devel
1.2.10-bp151.4.1
libspf2-tools
1.2.10-bp151.4.1
Timeline
Publicly disclosed
Sep 6, 2019
Added to Industry KEV feed
Feb 8, 2024
Last updated
Oct 20, 2026
Weakness Type
- CWE-119 Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer
- CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write
References
- advisoryexim.org · CVE-2019-15846
- advisorysecurity-tracker.debian.org · CVE-2019-15846
- advisoryubuntu.com · CVE-2019-15846
- advisorycve.org · CVERecord
- advisoryexim.org · CVE-2019-15846
FAQ
Common Questions.
Exim before 4.92.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code as root via a trailing backslash.
Affected: Exim; Debian Linux versions 10.0, 8.0, 9.0; exim4 (debian), among others. The full list is in the CVE brief.
It is exploited in the wild, listed in Industry KEV feed since Feb 8, 2024.
No, it is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
No public exploit code is known.
Fixed versions are available, including Exim 4.88-lp151.4.9.1, Exim 4.91-r2, Exim 4.92-1.24.amzn1.
Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.
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