# CVE-2020-8015: Local privilege escalation in exim package from user mail to root

> Local attackers can escalate privileges from user mail to root via symlink following in Exim packaging on openSUSE.

- **Severity:** High 8.4 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 2 Apr 2020
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-rpgh-5p2m-vxqx, openSUSE-SU-2020:0491-1

## What is CVE-2020-8015?

CVE-2020-8015 is a high-severity vulnerability in Exim Exim, published on 2 Apr 2020. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A UNIX Symbolic Link (Symlink) Following vulnerability in the packaging of exim in openSUSE Factory allows local attackers to escalate from user mail to root. This issue affects: openSUSE Factory exim versions prior to 4.93.0.4-3.1.

Weakness: CWE-59 (Improper Link Resolution Before File Access)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-8015?

It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `exim` | openSUSE:Leap 15.1 | All versions | 4.88-lp151.4.12.1 |

Products: Exim Exim.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-8015?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2020-8015 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-8015 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Exim Exim

- [CVE-2026-45185](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-45185/): Use after free in Exim (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-42115](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-42115/): Exim AUTH Out-Of-Bounds Write Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-28017](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-28017/): Integer overflow in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-28018](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-28018/): Use after free in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-28020](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-28020/): Integer overflow in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-8015 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-8015 is a high-severity vulnerability in Exim Exim, published on 2 Apr 2020. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-8015 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Exim Exim. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-8015/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-8015/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-8015
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-8015
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-8015

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-8015/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.