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Vulnerability record · CVE-2016-1531 · published 7 April 2016

CVE-2016-1531: Exim permissions and access controls vulnerability

Exim · Exim

Exim before 4.86.2, when installed setuid root, allows local users to gain privileges via the perl_startup argument.

7.0 CVSS 3.0 High EPSS 6.3% · top 6.7% CWE-264 · Permissions and access controls
7.0CVSS 3.0 base score, v2 6.9
6.3%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
1Affected product versions listed by NVD
20References, 4 tagged exploit
17 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

Description

Exim before 4.86.2, when installed setuid root, allows local users to gain privileges via the perl_startup argument.

CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected products

1 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.

References

LinkTags
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 Exploit
http://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3517
http://www.exim.org/static/doc/CVE-2016-1531.txt Third Party AdvisoryUS Government Resource
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/ Exploit
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/39549/
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/39702/
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 Exploit
http://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3517
http://www.exim.org/static/doc/CVE-2016-1531.txt Third Party AdvisoryUS Government Resource
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/ Exploit
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/39549/
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/39702/

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Related vulnerabilities

Same products first, then exploited flaws of the same weakness class.

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Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2016-1531), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-09-26). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.