Exim4: Exim before 4.99.5 allows directory traversal to access files outside of the spool area, and consequently gain privileges, because arguments related…
Exim versions before 4.99.5 contain a directory traversal vulnerability that allows attackers to access files outside the intended spool area by mishandling queue-name related arguments. This flaw can lead to privilege escalation. The vulnerability affects multiple Ubuntu LTS versions with Exim packages prior to specific patched versions.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
Exim before version 4.99.5 improperly handles arguments related to queue-name, enabling directory traversal that allows access to files outside the mail spool directory. This can lead to privilege escalation. The vulnerability affects many Ubuntu-packaged versions of Exim4. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) indicates a local attacker can exploit this without privileges or user interaction, causing high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Potential Impact
Successful exploitation allows an attacker with local access to traverse directories outside the mail spool area and gain elevated privileges, potentially compromising system confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Mitigation Recommendations
A fix is available in Exim version 4.99.5 and later. Users should upgrade to version 4.99.5 or newer to remediate this vulnerability. Patch status is confirmed by the version cutoff. No vendor advisory content was provided to indicate alternative mitigations or no-action status.
Exim4: Exim before 4.99.5 allows directory traversal to access files outside of the spool area, and consequently gain privileges, because arguments related…
Description
Exim versions before 4.99.5 contain a directory traversal vulnerability that allows attackers to access files outside the intended spool area by mishandling queue-name related arguments. This flaw can lead to privilege escalation. The vulnerability affects multiple Ubuntu LTS versions with Exim packages prior to specific patched versions.
CVSS v3.1
Score 8.4high
Affected software
pkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]+esm9?arch=source&distro=esm-infra-legacy/trustypkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]+esm9?arch=source&distro=esm-infra-legacy/xenialpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]+esm6?arch=source&distro=esm-infra/bionicpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]+esm1?arch=source&distro=esm-infra/focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=jammypkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=noblepkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=resoluteRun on your own infrastructure? Check whether these packages are installed with threat-finder — our free open-source scanner.
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
Exim before version 4.99.5 improperly handles arguments related to queue-name, enabling directory traversal that allows access to files outside the mail spool directory. This can lead to privilege escalation. The vulnerability affects many Ubuntu-packaged versions of Exim4. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) indicates a local attacker can exploit this without privileges or user interaction, causing high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Potential Impact
Successful exploitation allows an attacker with local access to traverse directories outside the mail spool area and gain elevated privileges, potentially compromising system confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Mitigation Recommendations
A fix is available in Exim version 4.99.5 and later. Users should upgrade to version 4.99.5 or newer to remediate this vulnerability. Patch status is confirmed by the version cutoff. No vendor advisory content was provided to indicate alternative mitigations or no-action status.
Technical Details
- Gcve Source
- db.gcve.eu
- Osv Id
- UBUNTU-CVE-2026-66140
- Osv Schema Version
- 1.7.0
- Aliases
- []
- Ecosystems
- ["Ubuntu:Pro:14.04:LTS","Ubuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS","Ubuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS","Ubuntu:Pro:20.04:LTS","Ubuntu:22.04:LTS","Ubuntu:24.04:LTS","Ubuntu:26.04:LTS"]
- Database Specific Severity
- null
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
Threat ID: 6a6ae5469c2644c7f8988297
Added to database: 07/30/2026, 05:46:46 UTC
Last enriched: 07/30/2026, 07:15:50 UTC
Last updated: 07/31/2026, 19:23:00 UTC
Views: 3
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