Vulnerability DatabaseCVE-2016-10045
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CVE-2016-10045
Published:December 30, 2016
Updated:May 17, 2026
The isMail transport in PHPMailer before 5.2.20 might allow remote attackers to pass extra parameters to the mail command and consequently execute arbitrary code by leveraging improper interaction between the escapeshellarg function and internal escaping performed in the mail function in PHP. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incorrect fix for CVE-2016-10033.
Affected Packages
phpmailer/phpmailer (PHP):
Affected version(s) >=v5.0.0 <v5.2.20
Fix Suggestion:
Update to version v5.2.20
Related Resources (22)
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-10045
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037533
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2016/Dec/81
https://github.com/PHPMailer/PHPMailer
https://github.com/PHPMailer/PHPMailer/releases/tag/v5.2.20
https://github.com/PHPMailer/PHPMailer/wiki/About-the-CVE-2016-10033-and-CVE-2016-10045-vulnerabilities
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42221
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/539967/100/0/threaded
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40969
http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/12/28/1
https://github.com/FriendsOfPHP/security-advisories/blob/master/phpmailer/phpmailer/CVE-2016-10045.yaml
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/95130
https://github.com/PHPMailer/PHPMailer/security/advisories/GHSA-4pc3-96mx-wwc8
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40986/
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40969/
https://developer.joomla.org/security-centre/668-20161205-phpmailer-security-advisory.html
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40986
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42221/
http://www.rapid7.com/db/modules/exploit/multi/http/phpmailer_arg_injection
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140286/PHPMailer-Remote-Code-Execution.html
https://legalhackers.com/advisories/PHPMailer-Exploit-Remote-Code-Exec-CVE-2016-10045-Vuln-Patch-Bypass.html
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140350/PHPMailer-Sendmail-Argument-Injection.html
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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
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
Weakness Type (CWE)
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')
CWE-77
EPSS
Base Score:
93.37