GHSA-5F37-GXVH-23V6

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2020-03-05 22:09 – Updated: 2025-10-22 17:33
VLAI?
Summary
Remote code execution in PHPMailer
Details

Impact

The mailSend function in the default isMail transport in PHPMailer before 5.2.18 might allow remote attackers to pass extra parameters to the mail command and consequently execute arbitrary code via a \" (backslash double quote) in a crafted Sender property.

Patches

Fixed in 5.2.18

Workarounds

Filter and validate user input before passing it to internal functions.

References

https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-10033 Related to a follow-on issue in https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-10045

For more information

If you have any questions or comments about this advisory: * Open a private issue in the PHPMailer project

Severity ?
9.8 (Critical)
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:H
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{
  "affected": [
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Packagist",
        "name": "phpmailer/phpmailer"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "5.0.0"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "5.2.18"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2016-10033"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-77",
      "CWE-88"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": true,
    "github_reviewed_at": "2020-03-05T22:05:13Z",
    "nvd_published_at": "2016-12-30T19:59:00Z",
    "severity": "CRITICAL"
  },
  "details": "### Impact\nThe `mailSend` function in the default `isMail` transport in PHPMailer before 5.2.18 might allow remote attackers to pass extra parameters to the mail command and consequently execute arbitrary code via a \\\u0026quot; (backslash double quote) in a crafted `Sender` property.\n\n### Patches\nFixed in 5.2.18\n\n### Workarounds\nFilter and validate user input before passing it to internal functions.\n\n### References\nhttps://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-10033\nRelated to a follow-on issue in https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-10045\n\n### For more information\nIf you have any questions or comments about this advisory:\n* Open a private issue in [the PHPMailer project](https://github.com/PHPMailer/PHPMailer)",
  "id": "GHSA-5f37-gxvh-23v6",
  "modified": "2025-10-22T17:33:42Z",
  "published": "2020-03-05T22:09:17Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/PHPMailer/PHPMailer/security/advisories/GHSA-5f37-gxvh-23v6"
    },
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-10033"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42221"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42024"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41996"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41962"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40986"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40974"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40970"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40969"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40968"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.drupal.org/psa-2016-004"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2016-10033"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://legalhackers.com/advisories/PHPMailer-Exploit-Remote-Code-Exec-CVE-2016-10033-Vuln.html"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/PHPMailer/PHPMailer/wiki/About-the-CVE-2016-10033-and-CVE-2016-10045-vulnerabilities"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/PHPMailer/PHPMailer/releases/tag/v5.2.18"
    },
    {
      "type": "PACKAGE",
      "url": "https://github.com/PHPMailer/PHPMailer"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/FriendsOfPHP/security-advisories/blob/master/phpmailer/phpmailer/CVE-2016-10033.yaml"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://developer.joomla.org/security-centre/668-20161205-phpmailer-security-advisory.html"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140291/PHPMailer-Remote-Code-Execution.html"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140350/PHPMailer-Sendmail-Argument-Injection.html"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2016/Dec/78"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://www.rapid7.com/db/modules/exploit/multi/http/phpmailer_arg_injection"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:H",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ],
  "summary": "Remote code execution in PHPMailer"
}


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  • Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
  • Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
  • Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
  • Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
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  • Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
  • Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.



Detection rules are retrieved from Rulezet.