Critical severity9.8NVD Advisory· Published Dec 30, 2016· Updated Jun 17, 2026
CVE-2016-10045
CVE-2016-10045
Description
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.
AI Insight
LLM-synthesized narrative grounded in this CVE's description and references.
Affected packages
Versions sourced from the GitHub Security Advisory.
| Package | Affected versions | Patched versions |
|---|---|---|
phpmailer/phpmailerPackagist | >= 5.0.0, < 5.2.20 | 5.2.20 |
Affected products
4- cpe:2.3:a:wordpress:wordpress:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*Range: <=4.7
Patches
Vulnerability mechanics
References
21- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/12/28/1nvdMailing ListPatchWEB
- seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2016/Dec/81nvdMailing ListPatchThird Party AdvisoryWEB
- github.com/PHPMailer/PHPMailer/releases/tag/v5.2.20nvdPatchVendor AdvisoryWEB
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/140286/PHPMailer-Remote-Code-Execution.htmlnvdExploitThird Party AdvisoryVDB EntryWEB
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/140350/PHPMailer-Sendmail-Argument-Injection.htmlnvdExploitThird Party AdvisoryVDB EntryWEB
- www.rapid7.com/db/modules/exploit/multi/http/phpmailer_arg_injectionnvdExploitThird Party AdvisoryWEB
- www.securityfocus.com/bid/95130nvdExploitThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- legalhackers.com/advisories/PHPMailer-Exploit-Remote-Code-Exec-CVE-2016-10045-Vuln-Patch-Bypass.htmlnvdExploitPatchThird Party AdvisoryWEB
- www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40969/nvdExploitThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/539967/100/0/threadednvdThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- www.securitytracker.com/id/1037533nvdThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- developer.joomla.org/security-centre/668-20161205-phpmailer-security-advisory.htmlnvdThird Party AdvisoryWEB
- github.com/advisories/GHSA-4pc3-96mx-wwc8ghsaADVISORY
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-10045ghsaADVISORY
- www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40986/nvdThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42221/nvdThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- github.com/FriendsOfPHP/security-advisories/blob/master/phpmailer/phpmailer/CVE-2016-10045.yamlghsaWEB
- github.com/PHPMailer/PHPMailer/security/advisories/GHSA-4pc3-96mx-wwc8ghsaWEB
- www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40969ghsaWEB
- www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40986ghsaWEB
- www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42221ghsaWEB
News mentions
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