Heap-based buffer overflow in the dkim_exim_query_dns_txt function in dkim.c in Exim 4.70…
Priority MEDIUM 41CWE-119Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- — Not recorded in CVSS 2.0
- Attack complexity
- Medium
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- Partial · Partial · Partial
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 2.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-119 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
Heap-based buffer overflow in the dkim_exim_query_dns_txt function in dkim.c in Exim 4.70 through 4.80, when DKIM support is enabled and acl_smtp_connect and acl_smtp_rcpt are not set to "warn control = dkim_disable_verify," allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via an email from a malicious DNS server.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.08382 95th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 9
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.70:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 4.70 | Vulnerable | Exim |
| cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.71:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 4.71 | Vulnerable | Exim |
| cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.72:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 4.72 | Vulnerable | Exim |
| cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.73:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 4.73 | Vulnerable | Exim |
| cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.74:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 4.74 | Vulnerable | Exim |
| cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.75:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 4.75 | Vulnerable | Exim |
| cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.76:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 4.76 | Vulnerable | Exim |
| cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.77:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 4.77 | Vulnerable | Exim |
| cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.80:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 4.80 | Vulnerable | Exim |
- cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.70:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.70 Vulnerable ·Exim
- cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.71:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.71 Vulnerable ·Exim
- cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.72:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.72 Vulnerable ·Exim
- cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.73:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.73 Vulnerable ·Exim
- cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.74:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.74 Vulnerable ·Exim
- cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.75:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.75 Vulnerable ·Exim
- cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.76:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.76 Vulnerable ·Exim
- cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.77:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.77 Vulnerable ·Exim
- cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.80:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.80 Vulnerable ·Exim
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Critical. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
Not affected: 1 product
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2012-5671
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-9mj7-g6p8-v73f
- 2026-11-07 EPSS moved to the 95th–99th percentile
References
More Exim vulnerabilities
- TI-2019-12627 Exim 4.92 through 4.92.2 allows remote code execution, a different vulnerability than… KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2019-07471 OS command injection in exim KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2018-04965 An issue was discovered in the base64d function in the SMTP listener in Exim before… KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2010-04077 Heap-based buffer overflow in the string_vformat function in string.c in Exim before 4.70… KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2010-04078 Exim 4.72 and earlier allows local users to gain privileges by leveraging the ability of… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2025-19707 SQL injection in Exim CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
Sources
- CVE-2012-5671 · CVE Program
- CVE-2012-5671 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-9mj7-g6p8-v73f · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2012-5671 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences