CVE-2026-45185: Use After Free

Published May 12, 2026
·
Updated

Exim before 4.99.3, in certain GnuTLS configurations, has a remotely reachable use-after-free in the BDAT body parsing path. It is triggered when a client sends a TLS close_notify mid-body during a CHUNKING transfer, followed by a final cleartext byte on the same TCP connection. This can lead to heap corruption. An unauthenticated network attacker exploiting this vulnerability could execute arbitrary code.

Affected Software

1 affected component
Exim Exim<4.99.3

Event History

May 12, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·12:00 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·12:00 AM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Data Sourced
via NVD·08:16 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
May 13, 2026
News Published
via BleepingComputer·08:23 PM
News Published
via BleepingComputer·08:25 PM
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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2026-45185?

CVE-2026-45185 has been classified with a high severity rating due to its potential for remote exploitation.

2

How do I fix CVE-2026-45185?

To mitigate CVE-2026-45185, upgrade Exim to version 4.99.3 or later where the vulnerability is addressed.

3

What are the potential consequences of CVE-2026-45185?

Exploitation of CVE-2026-45185 may lead to denial of service or remote code execution on affected Exim email servers.

4

Which versions of Exim are affected by CVE-2026-45185?

Exim versions prior to 4.99.3 are affected by CVE-2026-45185.

5

Can CVE-2026-45185 be exploited remotely?

Yes, CVE-2026-45185 can be exploited remotely if certain GnuTLS configurations are in use.

Contact

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