CVE-2025-34489: GFI MailEssentials prior to version 21.8 is vulnerable to a local privilege escalation issue

Q: How do I fix CVE-2025-34489?

mailessentials: upgrade to 21.8. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2025-34489 being exploited?

CVE-2025-34489 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

Q: What does CVE-2025-34489 affect?

CVE-2025-34489 affects mailessentials. Severity is high (CVSS 7.8). GFI MailEssentials prior to version 21.8 is vulnerable to a local privilege escalation issue. A local attacker can escalate to NT Authority/SYSTEM by sending a crafted serialized payload to a .NET Remoting Service.

Q: How urgent is CVE-2025-34489?

Priority 39/100. High severity; Public exploit reference

Routine

HIGH 7.8UPGRADE

CVE-2025-34489 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.8) affecting mailessentials. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

GFI MailEssentials prior to version 21.8 is vulnerable to a local privilege escalation issue. A local attacker can escalate to NT Authority/SYSTEM by sending a crafted serialized payload to a .NET Remoting Service.

Why this priority

High severity
Public exploit reference

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	7.8 (High)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	Low
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	0.3% (top 74%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-502
Published	2025-04-28
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): VulnCheck · Vendor: gfi

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2025-04-28 19:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 09:14 UTCUpdated Record last modified

gfi mailessentials UPGRADE

Affected: < 21.8

Fixed in: 21.8

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy mailessentials || rpm -q mailessentials || mailessentials --version

2. UPGRADE to 21.8 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade mailessentials

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade mailessentials

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2025-34489?

mailessentials: upgrade to 21.8. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2025-34489 being exploited?

CVE-2025-34489 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2025-34489 affect?

CVE-2025-34489 affects mailessentials. Severity is high (CVSS 7.8). GFI MailEssentials prior to version 21.8 is vulnerable to a local privilege escalation issue. A local attacker can escalate to NT Authority/SYSTEM by sending a crafted serialized payload to a .NET Remoting Service.

How urgent is CVE-2025-34489?

Priority 39/100. High severity; Public exploit reference

Related CVEs

CVE-2025-34491 HIGH 8.8 UPGRADE GFI MailEssentials prior to version 21.8 is vulnerable to a .NET deserialization issue
CVE-2025-34490 MEDIUM 6.5 UPGRADE GFI MailEssentials prior to version 21.8 is vulnerable to an XML External Entity (XXE) issue

References

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