Exim before 4.99.5 allows directory traversal to access files outside of the spool area, and consequently gain privileges, because arguments related to queue-name are mishandled.

There are packages installed that are affected by multiple vulnerabilities referenced in the following CVEs:

  - Exim before 4.99.5 allows directory traversal to access files outside of the spool area, and consequently
    gain privileges, because arguments related to queue-name are mishandled. (CVE-2026-66140)

  - Exim before 4.99.5 allows .forward privilege escalation because force_command for a pipe transport is
    mishandled. (CVE-2026-66141)

The Linux/Unix host has one or more packages installed that are impacted by a vulnerability without a vendor supplied patch available.

  - Exim before 4.99.5 allows directory traversal to access files outside of the spool area, and consequently     gain privileges, because arguments related to queue-name are mishandled. (CVE-2026-66140)

Note that Nessus relies on the presence of the package as reported by the vendor.

The remote Debian 13 host has packages installed that are affected by multiple vulnerabilities as referenced in the dsa-6400 advisory.

    - -------------------------------------------------------------------------     Debian Security Advisory DSA-6400-1                   security@debian.org     https://www.debian.org/security/                     Salvatore Bonaccorso     July 24, 2026                         https://www.debian.org/security/faq
    - -------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Package        : exim4     CVE ID         : CVE-2026-66140 CVE-2026-66141

    Two vulnerabilities were discovered in Exim, a mail transport agent,     which may result in privilege escalation for a local attacker.

    For the stable distribution (trixie), these problems have been fixed in     version 4.98.2-1+deb13u4.

    We recommend that you upgrade your exim4 packages.

    For the detailed security status of exim4 please refer to its security     tracker page at:
    https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/exim4

    Further information about Debian Security Advisories, how to apply     these updates to your system and frequently asked questions can be     found at: https://www.debian.org/security/

    Mailing list: debian-security-announce@lists.debian.org

Tenable has extracted the preceding description block directly from the Debian security advisory.

Note that Nessus has not tested for these issues but has instead relied only on the application's self-reported version number.

ID	Name	Product	Family	Type	Severity
445379	Alpine: multiple exim packages: security update to 4.98.5-r0	Tenable Cloud Security	Alpine Linux Local Security Checks	Local	high
445379	Alpine: multiple exim packages: security update to 4.98.5-r0	Tenable Self-Hosted Container Security	Alpine Linux Local Security Checks	Local	high
329601	Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-66140	Nessus	Misc.	Local	high
329376	Debian dsa-6400 : exim4 - security update	Nessus	Debian Local Security Checks	Local	high

Detections

Analytics

CVE-2026-66140

high

Tenable Plugins

high

high

high

high