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exim4 — security advisory

Type: advisorySources: OSVAdvisory ID: DEBIAN-CVE-2011-0017

The open_log function in log.c in Exim 4.72 and earlier does not check the return value from (1) setuid or (2) setgid system calls, which allows local users to append log data to arbitrary files via a symlink attack.

Products
exim4
Affected versions
Not specified
Fixed versions
4.72-4
CVEs
CVE-2011-0017
Confirmed fixed CVEs
Not specified
Updated in this feed
31 Oct 2026, 23:20 UTC · Revision 1

Source evidence

DEBIAN-CVE-2011-0017

core-osv · Original source

Published 2 Feb 2011, 01:00 UTC

The open_log function in log.c in Exim 4.72 and earlier does not check the return value from (1) setuid or (2) setgid system calls, which allows local users to append log data to arbitrary files via a symlink attack.

osv:DEBIAN-CVE-2011-0017

exim4

Fixed versions: 4.72-4

exim4

Fixed versions: 4.72-4

exim4

Fixed versions: 4.72-4

Complete source record
{
  "id": "4aed71bbea571e3d20fdfea4c23f8a55c6ef1521b1df33b5cbd94eff925bd044",
  "url": "https://osv.dev/vulnerability/DEBIAN-CVE-2011-0017",
  "method": "structured",
  "payload": {
    "kind": "advisory",
    "title": "DEBIAN-CVE-2011-0017",
    "summary": "The open_log function in log.c in Exim 4.72 and earlier does not check the return value from (1) setuid or (2) setgid system calls, which allows local users to append log data to arbitrary files via a symlink attack.",
    "evidence": "osv:DEBIAN-CVE-2011-0017",
    "products": [
      {
        "name": {
          "value": "exim4",
          "evidence": "/affected/0/package/name"
        },
        "prerequisites": [],
        "fixed_versions": [
          {
            "value": "4.72-4",
            "evidence": "/affected/0/ranges"
          }
        ],
        "affected_versions": []
      },
      {
        "name": {
          "value": "exim4",
          "evidence": "/affected/1/package/name"
        },
        "prerequisites": [],
        "fixed_versions": [
          {
            "value": "4.72-4",
            "evidence": "/affected/1/ranges"
          }
        ],
        "affected_versions": []
      },
      {
        "name": {
          "value": "exim4",
          "evidence": "/affected/2/package/name"
        },
        "prerequisites": [],
        "fixed_versions": [
          {
            "value": "4.72-4",
            "evidence": "/affected/2/ranges"
          }
        ],
        "affected_versions": []
      }
    ],
    "severity": "unknown",
    "structured": {
      "id": "DEBIAN-CVE-2011-0017",
      "aliases": [
        "DEBIAN-CVE-2011-0017"
      ],
      "affected": [
        {
          "ranges": [
            {
              "type": "ECOSYSTEM",
              "events": [
                {
                  "introduced": "0"
                },
                {
                  "fixed": "4.72-4"
                }
              ]
            }
          ],
          "package": {
            "name": "exim4",
            "purl": "pkg:deb/debian/exim4?arch=source&distro=bookworm",
            "ecosystem": "Debian:12"
          },
          "database_specific": {
            "source": "https://storage.googleapis.com/debian-osv/debian-cve-osv/DEBIAN-CVE-2011-0017.json"
          },
          "ecosystem_specific": {
            "urgency": "not yet assigned"
          }
        },
        {
          "ranges": [
            {
              "type": "ECOSYSTEM",
              "events": [
                {
                  "introduced": "0"
                },
                {
                  "fixed": "4.72-4"
                }
              ]
            }
          ],
          "package": {
            "name": "exim4",
            "purl": "pkg:deb/debian/exim4?arch=source&distro=trixie",
            "ecosystem": "Debian:13"
          },
          "database_specific": {
            "source": "https://storage.googleapis.com/debian-osv/debian-cve-osv/DEBIAN-CVE-2011-0017.json"
          },
          "ecosystem_specific": {
            "urgency": "not yet assigned"
          }
        },
        {
          "ranges": [
            {
              "type": "ECOSYSTEM",
              "events": [
                {
                  "introduced": "0"
                },
                {
                  "fixed": "4.72-4"
                }
              ]
            }
          ],
          "package": {
            "name": "exim4",
            "purl": "pkg:deb/debian/exim4?arch=source&distro=forky",
            "ecosystem": "Debian:14"
          },
          "database_specific": {
            "source": "https://storage.googleapis.com/debian-osv/debian-cve-osv/DEBIAN-CVE-2011-0017.json"
          },
          "ecosystem_specific": {
            "urgency": "not yet assigned"
          }
        }
      ],
      "modified": "2026-10-23T17:47:41.167396491Z",
      "provider": "osv",
      "upstream": [
        "CVE-2011-0017"
      ],
      "references": [
        "https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2011-0017"
      ]
    },
    "related_cves": [
      {
        "value": "CVE-2011-0017",
        "evidence": "/upstream"
      }
    ],
    "security_relevant": true,
    "severity_evidence": null
  },
  "source_id": "core-osv",
  "document_id": 418346,
  "published_at": "2011-02-02T01:00:06.203+00:00"
}