Vulnerability DatabaseCVE-2016-10033
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CVE-2016-10033
Published:December 30, 2016
Updated:May 17, 2026
The mailSend function in the 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.
Affected Packages
phpmailer/phpmailer (PHP):
Affected version(s) >=v5.0.0 <v5.2.18
Fix Suggestion:
Update to version v5.2.18
Additional Notes
The description of this vulnerability differs from MITRE.
Related Resources (37)
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41996/
http://www.rapid7.com/db/modules/exploit/multi/http/phpmailer_arg_injection
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-10033
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140350/PHPMailer-Sendmail-Argument-Injection.html
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2016-10033
https://github.com/PHPMailer/PHPMailer/releases/tag/v5.2.18
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40969/
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40969
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42024/
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40974
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42221/
https://legalhackers.com/advisories/PHPMailer-Exploit-Remote-Code-Exec-CVE-2016-10033-Vuln.html
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2016/Dec/78
https://github.com/PHPMailer/PHPMailer/wiki/About-the-CVE-2016-10033-and-CVE-2016-10045-vulnerabilities
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/95108
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/539963/100/0/threaded
https://security.alpinelinux.org/vuln/CVE-2016-10033
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40968/
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42024
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40986/
https://developer.joomla.org/security-centre/668-20161205-phpmailer-security-advisory.html
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40970
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40970/
https://github.com/PHPMailer/PHPMailer/security/advisories/GHSA-5f37-gxvh-23v6
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40974/
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40986
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41962/
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140291/PHPMailer-Remote-Code-Execution.html
https://github.com/FriendsOfPHP/security-advisories/blob/master/phpmailer/phpmailer/CVE-2016-10033.yaml
https://github.com/PHPMailer/PHPMailer
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42221
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41962
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40968
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037533
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41996
https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2016-10033
https://www.drupal.org/psa-2016-004
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CVSS v4
Base Score:
9.3
Attack Vector
NETWORK
Attack Complexity
LOW
Attack Requirements
NONE
Privileges Required
NONE
User Interaction
NONE
Vulnerable System Confidentiality
HIGH
Vulnerable System Integrity
HIGH
Vulnerable System Availability
HIGH
Subsequent System Confidentiality
NONE
Subsequent System Integrity
NONE
Subsequent System Availability
NONE
Exploit Maturity
POC
CVSS v3
Base Score:
9.8
Attack Vector
NETWORK
Attack Complexity
LOW
Privileges Required
NONE
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
HIGH
Integrity
HIGH
Availability
HIGH
Exploit Maturity
FUNCTIONAL
Weakness Type (CWE)
Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters in a Command ('Argument Injection')
CWE-88
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')
CWE-77
EPSS
Base Score:
94.47