How severe is CVE-2014-2972?

CVE-2014-2972 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 4.6, rated medium severity.

Is CVE-2014-2972 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (38th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2014-2972?

CVE-2014-2972 primarily affects Exim. In total, 52 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2014-2972?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2014-2972 published?

CVE-2014-2972 was published on 2014-09-04 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2014-2972

CVE-2014-2972 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Exim with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 4.6. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-189.

Key facts

Severity: Medium (CVSS 2.0 base score 4.6)
EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (38th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-189
Affected product: Exim
Published: 2014-09-04
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

expand.c in Exim before 4.83 expands mathematical comparisons twice, which allows local users to gain privileges and execute arbitrary commands via a crafted lookup value.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2014-2972?: expand.c in Exim before 4.83 expands mathematical comparisons twice, which allows local users to gain privileges and execute arbitrary commands via a crafted lookup value.
How severe is CVE-2014-2972?: CVE-2014-2972 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 4.6, rated medium severity.
Is CVE-2014-2972 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (38th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2014-2972?: CVE-2014-2972 primarily affects Exim. In total, 52 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2014-2972?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2014-2972 published?: CVE-2014-2972 was published on 2014-09-04 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (52)

cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.00:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.01:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.02:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.03:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.04:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.05:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.20:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.21:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.22:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.23:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.24:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.30:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.31:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.32:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.33:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.34:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.40:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.41:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.42:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.43:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.44:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.50:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.51:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.52:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.53:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.54:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.60:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.61:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.62:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.63:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.64:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.65:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.66:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.67:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:exim:exim:4.68:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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