--- title: "CVE-2010-4345: Exim 4.72 and earlier allows local users… | CubePath" description: "Exim 4.72 and earlier allows local users to gain privileges by leveraging the ability of the exim user account to specify an alternate configuration file…" language: en source: https://cubepath.com/security/cve/CVE-2010-4345 --- # CVE-2010-4345: Exim 4.72 and earlier allows local users… | CubePath ## Description Exim 4.72 and earlier allows local users to gain privileges by leveraging the ability of the exim user account to specify an alternate configuration file with a directive that contains arbitrary commands, as demonstrated by the spool\_directory directive. Official description from the CVE record, published by redhat. Copyright © 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. See [/security/cve/legal](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal) for the CVE license. [View the record on cve.org](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2010-4345) ## Key data ### CVSS 3.1 High 7.8 Score published by CISA-ADP in the CVE record. CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H | Metric | Value | What it means | | ---------------------- | --------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Attack vector | Local | The attacker needs local access to the system, or to trick a user into running something. | | Attack complexity | Low | No special conditions are needed. The attack can be repeated at will. | | Privileges required | Low | A basic user account is needed. | | User interaction | None | No action from any user is needed. | | Scope | Unchanged | The impact stays within the vulnerable component. | | Confidentiality impact | High | Serious or total effect on the secrecy of data. | | Integrity impact | High | Serious or total effect on the trustworthiness of data. | | Availability impact | High | Serious or total effect on availability. | CVSS is owned and managed by FIRST.Org, Inc. (FIRST) and is used by permission. Each CVSS score on this site is shown together with its vector string, as published in the CVE record by the source named next to it. Learn more at [first.org/cvss](https://www.first.org/cvss/) . ### EPSS Exploit Prediction Scoring System by FIRST: an estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days. Score 0.17965 (18.0% probability) Percentile 97.2% Scores of Nov 10, 2026 Model v2026.06.15 ### CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities This CVE is listed in the CISA KEV catalog. Name in the catalog Exim Privilege Escalation Vulnerability Added to the catalog Mar 25, 2022 Federal due date Apr 15, 2022 ### CISA assessment as of Feb 7, 2025 Stakeholder-Specific Vulnerability Categorization (SSVC) decision points added by CISA. Exploitation Recorded by CISA as active Automatable no Technical impact total ### Weakness (CWE) CWE catalog version 5.0. CWE names: Copyright © 2006-2026, The MITRE Corporation. See [/security/cve/legal](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal) for the CWE license. - [CWE-77](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/77.html) Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ## References Links listed in the CVE record. They lead to other sites, which CubePath does not control. - [43128](http://secunia.com/advisories/43128) (secunia.com) third-party-advisory - [SUSE-SA:2010:059](http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2010-12/msg00003.html) (lists.opensuse.org) vendor-advisory - [\[exim-dev\] 20101209 Re: \[Exim-maintainers\] Remote root vulnerability in Exim](http://lists.exim.org/lurker/message/20101209.172233.abcba158.en.html) (lists.exim.org) mailing-list - [VU#758489](http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/758489) (kb.cert.org) third-party-advisory - [\[exim-dev\] 20101207 Remote root vulnerability in Exim](http://www.exim.org/lurker/message/20101207.215955.bb32d4f2.en.html) (exim.org) mailing-list - [bugzilla.redhat.com/show\_bug.cgi?id=662012](https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show%5Fbug.cgi?id=662012) - [ADV-2011-0364](http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2011/0364) (vupen.com) vdb-entry - [metasploit.com/modules/exploit/unix/smtp/exim4\_string\_format](http://www.metasploit.com/modules/exploit/unix/smtp/exim4%5Fstring%5Fformat) - [RHSA-2011:0153](http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2011-0153.html) (redhat.com) vendor-advisory - [45341](http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/45341) (securityfocus.com) vdb-entry - [42930](http://secunia.com/advisories/42930) (secunia.com) third-party-advisory - [42576](http://secunia.com/advisories/42576) (secunia.com) third-party-advisory - [43243](http://secunia.com/advisories/43243) (secunia.com) third-party-advisory - [1024859](http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1024859) (securitytracker.com) vdb-entry - [\[exim-dev\] 20101210 Re: Remote root vulnerability in Exim](http://lists.exim.org/lurker/message/20101210.164935.385e04d0.en.html) (lists.exim.org) mailing-list - [DSA-2154](http://www.debian.org/security/2011/dsa-2154) (debian.org) vendor-advisory - [20101213 Exim security issue in historical release](http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/515172/100/0/threaded) (securityfocus.com) mailing-list - [theregister.co.uk/2010/12/11/exim\_code\_execution\_peril](http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/12/11/exim%5Fcode%5Fexecution%5Fperil/) - [ADV-2011-0245](http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2011/0245) (vupen.com) vdb-entry - [ADV-2011-0135](http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2011/0135) (vupen.com) vdb-entry - [USN-1060-1](http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1060-1) (ubuntu.com) vendor-advisory - [ADV-2010-3204](http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2010/3204) (vupen.com) vdb-entry - [bugs.exim.org/show\_bug.cgi?id=1044](http://bugs.exim.org/show%5Fbug.cgi?id=1044) - [DSA-2131](http://www.debian.org/security/2010/dsa-2131) (debian.org) vendor-advisory - [ADV-2010-3171](http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2010/3171) (vupen.com) vdb-entry - [cpanel.net/2010/12/critical-exim-security-update.html](http://www.cpanel.net/2010/12/critical-exim-security-update.html) - [\[oss-security\] 20101210 Exim remote root](http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/12/10/1) (openwall.com) mailing-list - [\[oss-security\] 20210504 21Nails: Multiple vulnerabilities in Exim](http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/05/04/7) (openwall.com) mailing-list ## Timeline 1. ID reserved Nov 30, 2010 2. Record published Dec 14, 2010 3. Added to CISA KEV Mar 25, 2022 4. Record last updated Oct 22, 2025 ## Look up another CVE ## About CubePath CubePath is a cloud provider with data centers in Europe and the United States. It offers VPS, bare metal servers and DDoS protection. [Cloud VPS](https://cubepath.com/vps) [DDoS protection](https://cubepath.com/ddos-protection) Data from the CVE Program (MITRE), CISA KEV and FIRST EPSS. CVSS is owned by FIRST and used by permission. Not affiliated with or endorsed by MITRE, CISA or FIRST. Data as of Nov 10, 2026, 19:59 UTC. [Sources and licenses](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal)