Remote code execution in PHPMailer
The advisory, in context
Impact
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.
This issue really emphasises that it's worth avoiding the built-in PHP mail() function entirely.
Patches
Fixed in 5.2.20
Workarounds
Send via SMTP to localhost instead of calling the mail() function.
References
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-10045 See also https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-10033
For more information
If you have any questions or comments about this advisory:
- Open a private issue in the PHPMailer project
Affected packages
Start with the recorded fix for your release branch. Check your installed version and test compatibility before upgrading. Fixing this advisory does not rule out other vulnerabilities in the release.
From 5.0.0 before 5.2.20
Fixed in 5.2.20
17 explicitly affected versions
v5.2.10, v5.2.11, v5.2.12, v5.2.13, v5.2.14, v5.2.15, v5.2.16, v5.2.17, v5.2.18, v5.2.19, v5.2.2, v5.2.4, v5.2.5, v5.2.6, v5.2.7, v5.2.8, v5.2.9
View affected-version evidence
{
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "5.0.0"
},
{
"fixed": "5.2.20"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
],
"versions": [
"v5.2.10",
"v5.2.11",
"v5.2.12",
"v5.2.13",
"v5.2.14",
"v5.2.15",
"v5.2.16",
"v5.2.17",
"v5.2.18",
"v5.2.19",
"v5.2.2",
"v5.2.4",
"v5.2.5",
"v5.2.6",
"v5.2.7",
"v5.2.8",
"v5.2.9"
]
}References
- https://github.com/PHPMailer/PHPMailer/security/advisories/GHSA-4pc3-96mx-wwc8
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-10045
- https://developer.joomla.org/security-centre/668-20161205-phpmailer-security-advisory.html
- https://github.com/FriendsOfPHP/security-advisories/blob/master/phpmailer/phpmailer/CVE-2016-10045.yaml
- 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://legalhackers.com/advisories/PHPMailer-Exploit-Remote-Code-Exec-CVE-2016-10045-Vuln-Patch-Bypass.html
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40969
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40986
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42221
- http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/12/28/1
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140286/PHPMailer-Remote-Code-Execution.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140350/PHPMailer-Sendmail-Argument-Injection.html
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2016/Dec/81
- http://www.rapid7.com/db/modules/exploit/multi/http/phpmailer_arg_injection