Debian Linux
CVE-2019-19920
HIGH
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A05:2025 - Injection
ASVS 5.0
V1 - Encoding and Sanitization OS command sanitization, avoid shell exec
MITRE ATT&CK
2 techniques across 1 tactic: Execution The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. |
| Impact | CVSS score of 8.8 (HIGH). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction not required. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | A remote attacker could execute arbitrary operating system commands on the host by sending crafted requests to the affected application. |
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Alert meAnalysisAI
sa-exim 4.2.1 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code if they can write a .cf file or a rule. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. This OS Command Injection vulnerability could allow attackers to execute arbitrary operating system commands on the host.
RemediationAI
A vendor patch is available. Apply the latest security update as soon as possible. Avoid passing user input to shell commands. Use language-specific APIs instead of shell execution. Apply strict input validation with allowlists.
Affects your stack
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Technical ContextAI · show details
This vulnerability is classified as OS Command Injection (CWE-78), which allows attackers to execute arbitrary operating system commands on the host. sa-exim 4.2.1 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code if they can write a .cf file or a rule. This occurs because Greylisting.pm relies on eval (rather than direct parsing and/or use of the taint feature). This issue is similar to CVE-2018-11805. Affected products include: Sa-Exim Project Sa-Exim, Canonical Ubuntu Linux, Debian Debian Linux.
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- Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources
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Severity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.
CVSS VectorNVD
DescriptionNVD
sa-exim 4.2.1 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code if they can write a .cf file or a rule. This occurs because Greylisting.pm relies on eval (rather than direct parsing and/or use of the taint feature). This issue is similar to CVE-2018-11805.
Threat Intelligence Overview
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
How this decision was reached
The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
OS command injection occurs when an application passes unsanitized user input directly into system shell commands.
Remote Code Execution represents the critical moment when an attacker successfully runs arbitrary code on a target system without physical access.
Affected Products (CPE)NVD
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