critical9.8Known exploitedPublic exploit code
CVE-2016-10033
PHPMailer Command Injection Vulnerability
Exploited in the wild
This vulnerability is on a Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue, added 2025-07-07. Federal due date: 2025-07-28.
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
Public exploit code
Working exploit or proof of concept code has been published for this vulnerability. Treat unpatched systems as at risk.
- WordPress Plugin PHPMailer 4.6 - Host Header Command Injection (Metasploit)2017-05-17 · remote · php · Verified
- PHPMailer < 5.2.18 - Remote Code Execution2016-12-26 · webapps · php · Verified
- PHPMailer < 5.2.20 with Exim MTA - Remote Code Execution2017-06-21 · webapps · php
- Vanilla Forums < 2.3 - Remote Code Execution2017-05-11 · remote · php
- WordPress Core 4.6 - Remote Code Execution2017-05-03 · webapps · linux
- PHPMailer < 5.2.20 / SwiftMailer < 5.4.5-DEV / Zend Framework / zend-mail < 2.4.11 - 'AIO' 'PwnScriptum' Remote Code Execution2017-01-02 · webapps · php
- PHPMailer < 5.2.18 - Remote Code Execution2016-12-29 · webapps · php
- PHPMailer < 5.2.18 - Remote Code Execution2016-12-25 · webapps · php
- PHPMailer < 5.2.20 - Remote Code Execution2016-12-27 · webapps · php
Impact
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 products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions |
|---|---|---|
| Phpmailer Project | Phpmailer | before 5.2.18 |
| Wordpress | Wordpress | through 4.7 |
| Joomla | Joomla\! | from 1.5.0 through 3.6.5 |
Weakness classification
References
- NVD record
- CVE.org record
- CISA KEV catalog
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140291/PHPMailer-Remote-Code-Execution.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140350/PHPMailer-Sendmail-Argument-Injection.html
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2016/Dec/78
- http://www.rapid7.com/db/modules/exploit/multi/http/phpmailer_arg_injection
- http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/539963/100/0/threaded
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/95108
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037533
- https://developer.joomla.org/security-centre/668-20161205-phpmailer-security-advisory.html
- https://github.com/PHPMailer/PHPMailer/releases/tag/v5.2.18
- 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-2016-10033-Vuln.html
- https://www.drupal.org/psa-2016-004
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40968/
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40969/
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40970/
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40974/
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40986/
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41962/
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41996/
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42024/
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42221/
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140291/PHPMailer-Remote-Code-Execution.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140350/PHPMailer-Sendmail-Argument-Injection.html
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2016/Dec/78
- http://www.rapid7.com/db/modules/exploit/multi/http/phpmailer_arg_injection