CVE-2010-4344

Confirmed PUBLISHED

Heap-based buffer overflow in the string_vformat function in string.c in Exim before 4.70 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via an...

Exim · Exim

Exploited in the wild

Recommended Action

Prioritize remediation. Validate affected assets and apply vendor fixes on an accelerated timeline.

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Confidence

Confirmed

Exploitation Status

Exploited in the wild

Observed in Sensors

Attempts (30d)

—

Unique Attacker IPs

—

CISA KEV

In CISA KEV

CVSS / EPSS

9.8 Critical

At a Glance

Heap-based buffer overflow in the string_vformat function in string.c in Exim before 4.70 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via an SMTP session that includes two MAIL commands in conjunction with a large message containing crafted headers, leading to improper rejection logging.

cisa metasploit

CVE Published: Dec 14, 2010
Exploitation Reported: Mar 25, 2022
CVSS: 9.8 Critical
EPSS: —

Remote Low complexity No user interaction Unauthenticated

Affected Versions

Vendor	Product	Version	Status
n/a	n/a	n/a	Affected

CVE References

SUSE-SA:2010:059 lists.opensuse.org · Vendor Advisory http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2010-12/msg00003...
RHSA-2010:0970 redhat.com · Vendor Advisory http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2010-0970.html
USN-1032-1 ubuntu.com · Vendor Advisory http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1032-1
DSA-2131 debian.org · Vendor Advisory http://www.debian.org/security/2010/dsa-2131
42576 secunia.com · Third-Party Advisory http://secunia.com/advisories/42576

Show 28 more references

42587 secunia.com · Third-Party Advisory http://secunia.com/advisories/42587
40019 secunia.com · Third-Party Advisory http://secunia.com/advisories/40019
VU#682457 kb.cert.org · Third-Party Advisory http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/682457
42586 secunia.com · Third-Party Advisory http://secunia.com/advisories/42586
42589 secunia.com · Third-Party Advisory http://secunia.com/advisories/42589
1024858 securitytracker.com · VDB Entry http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1024858
ADV-2010-3186 vupen.com · VDB Entry http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2010/3186
45308 securityfocus.com · VDB Entry http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/45308
ADV-2010-3172 vupen.com · VDB Entry http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2010/3172
ADV-2010-3181 vupen.com · VDB Entry http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2010/3181
ADV-2010-3317 vupen.com · VDB Entry http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2010/3317
69685 osvdb.org · VDB Entry http://www.osvdb.org/69685
ADV-2010-3246 vupen.com · VDB Entry http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2010/3246
ADV-2010-3204 vupen.com · VDB Entry http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2010/3204
ADV-2010-3171 vupen.com · VDB Entry http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2010/3171
[exim-dev] 20101207 Remote root vulnerability in Exim exim.org · Mailing List http://www.exim.org/lurker/message/20101207.215955.bb32d4f2.en.html
[exim-dev] 20101210 Re: Remote root vulnerability in Exim lists.exim.org · Mailing List http://lists.exim.org/lurker/message/20101210.164935.385e04d0.en.html
20101213 Exim security issue in historical release securityfocus.com · Mailing List http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/515172/100/0/threaded
[oss-security] 20101210 Exim remote root openwall.com · Mailing List http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/12/10/1
[oss-security] 20210504 21Nails: Multiple vulnerabilities in Exim openwall.com · Mailing List http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/05/04/7
bugs.exim.org/show_bug.cgi bugs.exim.org · CVE Record http://bugs.exim.org/show_bug.cgi?id=787
metasploit.com/modules/exploit/unix/smtp/exim4_string_format metasploit.com · CVE Record http://www.metasploit.com/modules/exploit/unix/smtp/exim4_string_format
atmail.com/blog/2010/atmail-6204-now-available atmail.com · CVE Record http://atmail.com/blog/2010/atmail-6204-now-available/
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi bugzilla.redhat.com · CVE Record https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=661756
cpanel.net/2010/12/exim-remote-memory-corruption-vulner... cpanel.net · CVE Record http://www.cpanel.net/2010/12/exim-remote-memory-corruption-vulnerabi...
theregister.co.uk/2010/12/11/exim_code_execution_peril theregister.co.uk · CVE Record http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/12/11/exim_code_execution_peril/
ftp.exim.orgpub/exim/ChangeLogs/ChangeLog-4.70 ftp.exim.org · CVE Record ftp://ftp.exim.org/pub/exim/ChangeLogs/ChangeLog-4.70
git.exim.org/exim.git/commit/24c929a27415c7cfc7126c47e4ca... git.exim.org · CVE Record http://git.exim.org/exim.git/commit/24c929a27415c7cfc7126c47e4cad39ac...

Recommended Actions

Prioritize remediation. Validate affected assets and apply vendor fixes on an accelerated timeline.
Check enrichment artifacts for scanner coverage and available PoCs before rolling remediation validation.
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Known Exploited Vulnerability Sources

Catalogues that list this CVE as a known exploited vulnerability.

Per-source evidence links for KEV attestations are available through the KEVIntel Pro API.

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Source	Added
CISA First	2022-03-25 00:00 UTC

Scanner Artifacts

Nuclei and Metasploit references linked to this CVE.

Scanner	Reference	Detected
Metasploit	https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/unix/smtp/exim4_string_format.rb	Apr 28, 2025

CVSS Scores

CVSS v3.1 9.8 Critical

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS v2.0 9.3 High

AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

Exploitation Status

Exploited in the wild

Recorded 2022-03-25 00:00:00 UTC · CISA

Weaknesses (CWE)

CWE-787

Out-of-bounds Write

Scanner Integrations

Scanner	Reference	Detected
Metasploit	https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/unix/smtp/exim4_string_format.rb	Apr 28, 2025

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Confidence scoring, exploit status, sensor telemetry, PoCs, scanner integrations, mentions, and tags are available programmatically for VM, SOC, and CTI workflows.

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Pro API Example

GET /api/v2/pro/kevs/CVE-2010-4344

{
  "cve_id": "CVE-2010-4344",
  "title": "Heap-based buffer overflow in the string_vformat function in string.c in Exim...",
  "affected_vendor": "Exim",
  "affected_product": "Exim",
  "affected_versions": [
    { "vendor": "...", "product": "...", "status": "affected", "display_label": "..." }
  ],
  "confidence": "Confirmed",
  "cvss_score": 9.8,
  "epss_score": null,
  "exploit_status": {
    "exploited_in_the_wild": true,
    "active_exploitation_observed": false
  },
  "sensor_telemetry": { "...": "Pro API fields" },
  "proof_of_concepts": [ "..." ],
  "scanner_integrations": [ "..." ]
}

The free JSON API returns basic KEV fields only. Confidence, telemetry, and artifact enrichment require Pro API access.

CVE-2010-4344

At a Glance

Affected Versions

CVE References

Recommended Actions

Known Exploited Vulnerability Sources

Scanner Artifacts

Virtual Patch

CVSS Scores

Exploitation Status

Weaknesses (CWE)

Scanner Integrations

Timeline

Automate This Intelligence with the Pro API