CVE-2019-10149
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Description
A flaw was found in Exim versions 4.87 to 4.91 (inclusive). Improper validation of recipient address in deliver_message() function in /src/deliver.c may lead to remote command execution.
Official description from the CVE record, published by redhat. Copyright © 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. See /security/cve/legal for the CVE license. View the record on cve.org
Key data
CVSS 3.0 Critical 9.0
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack vector: Network
The vulnerable component can be reached over a network, possibly from the Internet.
Attack complexity: High
The attack depends on conditions outside the attacker's control, so it takes preparation.
Privileges required: None
No account or privileges are needed.
User interaction: None
No action from any user is needed.
Scope: Changed
The impact can reach other components beyond the vulnerable one.
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.
| Metric | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Attack vector | Network | The vulnerable component can be reached over a network, possibly from the Internet. |
| Attack complexity | High | The attack depends on conditions outside the attacker's control, so it takes preparation. |
| Privileges required | None | No account or privileges are needed. |
| User interaction | None | No action from any user is needed. |
| Scope | Changed | The impact can reach other components beyond the vulnerable one. |
| 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.
EPSS
- Score
- 0.99961 (99.96% probability)
- Percentile
- 99.97%
- Scores of
- Nov 10, 2026
- Model
- v2026.06.15
CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities
- Name in the catalog
- Exim Mail Transfer Agent (MTA) Improper Input Validation
- Added to the catalog
- Jan 10, 2022
- Federal due date
- Jul 10, 2022
CISA assessment as of Feb 7, 2025
- Exploitation
- Recorded by CISA as active
- Automatable
- no
- Technical impact
- total
Weakness (CWE)
- CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command
Affected products
exim
- affected: 4.92
References
- [oss-security] 20190605 Re: CVE-2019-10149: Exim 4.87 to 4.91: possible remote exploit (openwall.com)mailing-list
- USN-4010-1 (usn.ubuntu.com)vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20190605 Re: CVE-2019-10149: Exim 4.87 to 4.91: possible remote exploit (openwall.com)mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20190605 Re: CVE-2019-10149: Exim 4.87 to 4.91: possible remote exploit (openwall.com)mailing-list
- DSA-4456 (debian.org)vendor-advisory
- 20190605 [SECURITY] [DSA 4456-1] exim4 security update (seclists.org)mailing-list
- GLSA-201906-01 (security.gentoo.org)vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20190606 Re: CVE-2019-10149: Exim 4.87 to 4.91: possible remote exploit (openwall.com)mailing-list
- 108679 (securityfocus.com)vdb-entry
- openSUSE-SU-2019:1524 (lists.opensuse.org)vendor-advisory
- 20190611 The Return of the WIZard: RCE in Exim (CVE-2019-10149) (seclists.org)mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20190725 Re: Statistics for distros lists updated for 2019Q2 (openwall.com)mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20190725 Re: Statistics for distros lists updated for 2019Q2 (openwall.com)mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20190726 Re: Statistics for distros lists updated for 2019Q2 (openwall.com)mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20210504 21Nails: Multiple vulnerabilities in Exim (openwall.com)mailing-list
- bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2019-10149
- exim.org/static/doc/security/CVE-2019-10149.txt
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/153218/Exim-4.9.1-Remote-Comm…
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/153312/Exim-4.91-Local-Privil…
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/154198/Exim-4.91-Local-Privil…
Timeline
- ID reserved
- Record published
- Added to CISA KEV
- Record last updated
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About CubePath
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, 19:33 UTC. Sources and licenses