Access Restriction Bypass Affecting exim4 package, versions <4.86.2-1
Threat Intelligence
Snyk has a proof-of-concept or detailed explanation of how to exploit this vulnerability.
The probability is the direct output of the EPSS model, and conveys an overall sense of the threat of exploitation in the wild. The percentile measures the EPSS probability relative to all known EPSS scores. Note: This data is updated daily, relying on the latest available EPSS model version. Check out the EPSS documentation for more details.
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Test your applications- Snyk IDSNYK-ECHOLATEST-EXIM4-18234319
- published23 Jul 2026
- disclosed7 Apr 2016
Introduced: 7 Apr 2016
CVE-2016-1531 (opens in a new tab)How to fix?
Upgrade Echo:latest exim4 to version 4.86.2-1 or higher.
NVD Description
Note: Versions mentioned in the description apply only to the upstream exim4 package and not the exim4 package as distributed by Echo.
See How to fix? for Echo:latest relevant fixed versions and status.
Exim before 4.86.2, when installed setuid root, allows local users to gain privileges via the perl_startup argument.
References
- https://advisory.echohq.com/cve/CVE-2016-1531
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00026.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/136124/Exim-4.84-3-Local-Root-Privilege-Escalation.html
- http://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3517
- http://www.exim.org/static/doc/CVE-2016-1531.txt
- http://www.rapid7.com/db/modules/exploit/unix/local/exim_perl_startup
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1035512
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2933-1
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/39535/
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/39549/
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/39702/
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/39549