Multiple Vulnerabilities in Exim Could Allow for Remote Code Execution

ITS ADVISORY NUMBER:

2021-064

DATE(S) ISSUED:

Thursday, May 6, 2021

SUBJECT:

Multiple Vulnerabilities in Exim Could Allow for Remote Code Execution

OVERVIEW:

Multiple vulnerabilities have been discovered in Exim, the most severe of which could allow for remote code execution. Exim is a mail transfer agent used to deploy mail servers on Unix-like systems. Successful exploitation of the most severe of these vulnerabilities will enable the attacker to perform command execution as root in the context of the mail server. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights.

THREAT INTELLIGENCE:

There are currently no reports of these vulnerabilities being exploited in the wild. A proof of concept exists for various vulnerabilities mentioned within this advisory.

SYSTEMS AFFECTED:

Exim versions prior to 4.94.2

RISK:

Government:

Large and medium government entities: High

Small government entities: Medium

Business:

Large and medium business entities: High

Small business entities: Medium

Home Users: Low

DESCRIPTION:

Multiple vulnerabilities have been discovered in Exim, the most severe of which could allow for remote code execution. Details of these vulnerabilities are as follows:

A security vulnerability exists due to a symlink error in Exim log directory. A local attacker can create a specially crafted symbolic link to a critical file on the system and overwrite it with privileges of the application. An attacker who obtained the privileges of the 'exim' user can exploit this local vulnerability to obtain full root privileges. (CVE-2020-28007)
A privilege escalation vulnerability because it fails to properly impose security restrictions on the spool directory. A local attacker can exploit this issue to escalate privileges on the system. An attacker who obtained the privileges of the 'exim' user can exploit
this local vulnerability to obtain full root privileges. (CVE-2020-28008)
An local integer-overflow vulnerability. Specifically, this issue affects the 'get_stdinput()' function. (CVE-2020-28009)
A local arbitrary code-execution vulnerability that occurs due to an out-of-bounds write error. Specifically, this issue affects the 'main()' function. An attacker can exploit this issue to execute arbitrary code within the context of the affected system. ( CVE-2020-28010)
A heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability due to a boundary error. Specifically, this issue affects the 'queue_run()' function. A local attacker can exploit this issue execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. An attacker who obtained the privileges of the 'exim' user can exploit this local vulnerability to obtain full root privileges. (CVE-2020-28011)
A privilege-escalation vulnerability that exists due to missing close-on-exec flag for privileged pipe. A local attacker can exploit this issue to escalate privileges on the system. (CVE-2020-28012)
A heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability due to a boundary error. Specifically, this issue affects the 'parse_fix_phrase()' function. A local attacker can exploit this issue execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. (CVE-2020-28013)
A security vulnerability because application uses PID files in an insecure manner. A local attacker who obtained the privileges of the 'exim' user can exploit this issue by predicting the name of the PID file and use it to escalate privileges on the system. (CVE-2020-28014)
A security vulnerability that exists due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input when processing new line characters. A local attacker can inject a new line character into spool header file to execute arbitrary commands. (CVE-2020-28015)
An arbitrary code-execution vulnerability that occurs due to an out-of-bounds write error. Specifically, this issue affects the 'parse_fix_phrase()' function. A local attacker can exploit this issue to execute arbitrary code within the context of the affected system. (CVE-2020-28016)
An remote integer-overflow vulnerability. Specifically, this issue affects the 'get_stdinput()' function. (CVE-2020-28017)
A remote Use-after-free vulnerability. Specifically in 'tls-openssl.c'. An attacker can exploit this issue to execute arbitrary code within the context of the affected system as the 'exim' user. (CVE-2020-28018)
A denial of service vulnerability exists, due to the failure to reset a function pointer after a BDAT error. (CVE-2020-28019)
An remote integer-overflow vulnerability. Specifically, this issue affects the 'get_stdinput()' function as the 'exim' user. (CVE-2020-28020)
A security vulnerability that exists due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input when processing new line characters. A remote attacker can inject a new line character into spool header file to execute arbitrary commands. (CVE-2020-28021)
A remote arbitrary code-execution vulnerability that occurs due to an out-of-bounds read and write error. Specifically, this issue affects the 'main()' function. An attacker can exploit this issue to execute arbitrary code within the context of the affected system as the 'exim' user. (CVE-2020-28022)
A remote security vulnerability exists that allows for an out-of-bounds read error. Specifically, this issue affects the smtp_setup_msg()' function. (CVE-2020-28023)
A remote heap-based buffer underflow vulnerability due to a boundary error. Specifically, this issue affects the smtp_ungetc()' function. An attacker can exploit this issue execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. (CVE-2020-28024)
A remote security vulnerability occurs due to an out-of-bounds read error. Specifically, this issue affects the 'pdkim_finish_bodyhash()' function. A attacker can exploit this issue to disclose information. (CVE-2020-28025)
A Line truncation and injection vulnerability exists that could allow an unauthenticated remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands as root (if DSN is enabled). Specifically this issue affects the 'spool_read_header()' function. (CVE-2020-28026)
An Arbitrary file deletion vulnerability exists that could allow any local user to delete an arbitrary file as root. (CVE-2021-27216)

Successful exploitation of the most severe of these vulnerabilities will enable the attacker to perform command execution as root in the context of the mail server. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights.

ACTIONS:

Verify no unauthorized system modifications have occurred on system before applying patch.
After appropriate testing, immediately apply patches provided by Exim to vulnerable systems.
Apply the principle of Least Privilege to all systems and services.
Remind users not to open emails, download attachments, or follow links provided by unknown or untrusted sources.

REFERENCES:

EXIM:
https://lists.exim.org/lurker/message/20210504.134007.ce022df3.en.html

Qualys:
https://www.qualys.com/2021/05/04/21nails/21nails.txt

Multiple Vulnerabilities in Exim Could Allow for Remote Code Execution

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