CVE-2023-42118

Adjacent-network code execution via SPF macro underflow

Published May 3, 2024 · Updated Mar 28, 2025

Integer underflow in Exim LibSPF2 allows remote attackers on an adjacent network to execute code through crafted SPF macros. In SPF_c_parse_var in spf_compile.c, the parser subtracts sizeof(SPF_data_t) from an undersized available-length value without first checking the bound, so the computed capacity underflows before subsequent writes. No authentication or user interaction is required, and successful exploitation runs code as the service account; upstream correspondence leaves the linkage between the published CVE and the candidate fix unresolved.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability51.75%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Integer underflow in Exim LibSPF2 allows remote attackers on an adjacent network to execute code through crafted SPF macros. In SPF_c_parse_var in spf_compile.c, the parser subtracts sizeof(SPF_data_t) from an undersized available-length value without first checking the bound, so the computed capacity underflows before subsequent writes. No authentication or user interaction is required, and successful exploitation runs code as the service account; upstream correspondence leaves the linkage between the published CVE and the candidate fix unresolved.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-42118
Published
May 3, 2024
Updated
Mar 28, 2025
Vendor
LibSPF2 Project
Product
LibSPF2
Classifications
CWE-191, T1190
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 3, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 28, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <*
  2. Affected versionversion=exim 4.96-RC0-14-24b8ed847-XX

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectoradjacent
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

LibSPF2 Project · LibSPF2version=0 <*; version=exim 4.96-RC0-14-24b8ed847-XX

Published CVSS scores

7.5Zero Day InitiativeCVSS:3.0/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectoradjacent
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-191Integer Underflow (Wrap or Wraparound)
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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