CVE-2025-30232
CVE-2025-30232: Exim Use-After-Free Vulnerability
Description:
A use-after-free vulnerability exists in Exim versions 4.96 through 4.98.1. This flaw can be exploited by users with command-line access to potentially escalate their privileges on the system. The vulnerability occurs due to improper memory management, where memory is freed but continues to be referenced, leading to unexpected behavior and potential code execution.
Severity:
- CVSS Score: 8.1 (High)
- Vector: AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- Impact: Allows a local user to potentially gain root privileges.
Known Exploit:
While the provided information does not include specifics of a published exploit, the nature of use-after-free vulnerabilities makes them exploitable. An attacker could potentially craft specific commands or inputs that trigger the use-after-free condition, allowing them to overwrite memory and ultimately execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges.
Remediation / Mitigation Strategy:
Upgrade Exim: Immediately upgrade Exim to a version that is not affected by this vulnerability. This is the primary and most effective mitigation. Check the Exim project website or your operating system’s package manager for the latest stable release. If available, apply the update following your organization’s standard patching procedures.
Restrict Command-Line Access: Review and restrict command-line access to Exim. Ideally, only authorized administrators should have the ability to interact directly with Exim’s command-line interface. Use Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) principles to minimize the number of accounts with this level of access.
Monitor Exim Logs: Implement robust monitoring of Exim logs for any suspicious activity. Look for unusual patterns, errors, or attempts to execute commands that could potentially trigger the vulnerability. Integrate these logs with your Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system for centralized analysis.
Disable Unnecessary Features: Disable any unnecessary features or modules in Exim that are not essential to its operation. This reduces the attack surface and the potential for exploiting the vulnerability.
Implement Memory Protection Measures: Ensure that your operating system and Exim are configured with appropriate memory protection measures, such as Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) and Data Execution Prevention (DEP). While these measures may not completely prevent exploitation, they can make it significantly more difficult.
Conduct Security Audits: Regularly conduct security audits of your Exim configuration and infrastructure to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.
Implement Intrusion Detection/Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS): Implement network-based and host-based intrusion detection and prevention systems that can detect and block malicious attempts to exploit this vulnerability. Ensure the rulesets are up to date.
Assigner
- MITRE [email protected]
Date
- Published Date: 2025-03-28 00:15:14
- Updated Date: 2025-03-28 18:11:40