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Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2016-1531

🗓️ 04 Mar 2025 00:00:00Reported by TenableType 
nessus
 nessus
🔗 www.tenable.com👁 8 Views

Linux/Unix packages vulnerable (CVE-2016-1531) without vendor patch; exploits are available.

Related
Refs
Code
ReporterTitlePublishedViews
Family
0day.today
Exim 4.84-3 - Privilege Escalation
9 Mar 201600:00
zdt
0day.today
Exim < 4.86.2 - Privilege Escalation
10 Mar 201600:00
zdt
0day.today
Exim - 'perl_startup' Privilege Escalation (Metasploit)
15 Apr 201600:00
zdt
FreeBSD
exim -- local privillege escalation
26 Feb 201600:00
freebsd
ArchLinux
exim: privilege escalation
10 Mar 201600:00
archlinux
Circl
CVE-2016-1531
9 Mar 201600:00
circl
CNVD
Exim Configuration File Path Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
7 Mar 201600:00
cnvd
CVE
CVE-2016-1531
7 Apr 201623:00
cve
Cvelist
CVE-2016-1531
7 Apr 201623:00
cvelist
Debian
[SECURITY] [DSA 3517-1] exim4 security update
14 Mar 201605:48
debian
Rows per page
#%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 80900
##
# (C) Tenable, Inc.
##

include('compat.inc');

if (description)
{
  script_id(219323);
  script_version("1.2");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2026/01/28");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2016-1531");

  script_name(english:"Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2016-1531");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
"The Linux/Unix host has one or more packages installed with a vulnerability that the vendor indicates will not be
patched.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
"The Linux/Unix host has one or more packages installed that are impacted by a vulnerability without a vendor supplied
patch available.

  - Exim before 4.86.2, when installed setuid root, allows local users to gain privileges via the perl_startup
    argument. (CVE-2016-1531)

Note that Nessus relies on the presence of the package as reported by the vendor.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/cve-2016-1531");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
"There is no known solution at this time.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"agent", value:"unix");
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:F/RL:U/RC:C");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H");
  script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:F/RL:U/RC:C");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2016-1531");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"Exploits are available");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"true");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vendor_unpatched", value:"true");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2016/03/03");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2025/03/04");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:4");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:5");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:exim");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"generated_plugin", value:"current");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_family(english:"Misc.");

  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2025-2026 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");

  script_dependencies("set_linux_os_id.nasl", "ssh_get_info2.nasl");
  script_require_keys("Host/OS/identifier", "Host/cpu", "Host/local_checks_enabled", "global_settings/vendor_unpatched");
  script_require_ports("Host/OS/Red Hat Enterprise Linux-4", "Host/OS/Red Hat Enterprise Linux-5");

  exit(0);
}

if (!get_kb_item("global_settings/vendor_unpatched")) exit(0, "Unpatched Vulnerabilities Detection not active.");
if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
if (empty_or_null(get_one_kb_item("Host/RedHat/rpm-list"))) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);

include('linux_unpatched.inc');

var distro_constraints_array = {
  "Red Hat Enterprise Linux-4": {
    "package_manager": "rpm-list",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "4",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "exim"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Red Hat Enterprise Linux-5": {
    "package_manager": "rpm-list",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "5",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "exim"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
};

var distro_constraints_values = linux_unpatched::get_distro_constraints(distro_constraints_arr:distro_constraints_array);
if (empty_or_null(distro_constraints_values)) audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, 'affected');
var report = linux_unpatched::check_unpatched_constraints(distro_constraints_values:distro_constraints_values);

if (!empty_or_null(report))
{
  security_report_v4(
      port       : 0,
      severity   : SECURITY_WARNING,
      extra      : report
  );
  exit(0);
}
else
{
  audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, 'affected');
}

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28 Jan 2026 00:00Current
7.1High risk
Vulners AI Score7.1
CVSS 26.9
CVSS 37
EPSS0.5677
8