CVE-2016-10033
PHPMailer Command Injection Vulnerability - [Actively Exploited]
Description
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.
INFO
Published Date :
Dec. 30, 2016, 7:59 p.m.
Last Modified :
July 8, 2025, 1 a.m.
Source :
[email protected]
Remotely Exploitable :
Yes !
Impact Score :
5.9
Exploitability Score :
3.9
CISA KEV (Known Exploited Vulnerabilities)
For the benefit of the cybersecurity community and network defenders—and to help every organization better manage vulnerabilities and keep pace with threat activity—CISA maintains the authoritative source of vulnerabilities that have been exploited in the wild.
PHPMailer contains a command injection vulnerability because it fails to sanitize user-supplied input. Specifically, this issue affects the 'mail()' function of 'class.phpmailer.php' script. An attacker can exploit this issue to execute arbitrary code within the context of the application. Failed exploit attempts will result in a denial-of-service condition.
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
This vulnerability could affect an open-source component, third-party library, protocol, or proprietary implementation that could be used by different products. For more information, please see: https://github.com/PHPMailer/PHPMailer/releases/tag/v5.2.18 ; https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-5f37-gxvh-23v6 ; https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-10033
Public PoC/Exploit Available at Github
CVE-2016-10033 has a 199 public PoC/Exploit available at Github.
Go to the Public Exploits tab to see the list.
Affected Products
The following products are affected by CVE-2016-10033
vulnerability.
Even if cvefeed.io is aware of the exact versions of the
products
that
are
affected, the information is not represented in the table below.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
Here, you will find a curated list of external links that provide in-depth
information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to
CVE-2016-10033.
We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).
An automated system that fetches real-world exploited vulnerabilities daily from trusted sources like CISA, enriches them with relevant details (attack, impact, remediation), and delivers them via email. Powered by GitHub Actions, this project helps individuals and teams stay up to date with the latest threats — one daily tip at a time.
Python
None
Python
None
PHP Shell
None
PHP HTML Hack
A PoC of CVE-2016-2098 I made for PentesterLab
Python
A PoC of CVE-2016-10033 I made for PentesterLab
Python
None
PHP Shell
None
PHP Hack CSS HTML
Made a travel App using SQL
PHP
None
PHP JavaScript Hack CSS
None
Dockerfile Shell PHP HTML JavaScript CSS
None
Dockerfile Shell PHP HTML JavaScript CSS
None
PHP Shell
None
PHP Shell
None
PHP Hack CSS JavaScript Shell HTML
Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.
The following list is the news that have been mention
CVE-2016-10033 vulnerability anywhere in the article.
-
Cyber Security News
CISA Warns of PHPMailer Command Injection Vulnerability Exploited in Attacks
Key Takeaways1. CVE-2016-10033 in PHPMailer allows attackers to execute arbitrary code through command injection in the mail() function.2. The vulnerability is being exploited in live cyberattacks, ri ... Read more
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Cyber Security News
macOS SMBClient Vulnerability Allows Remote Code Execution and Kernel Crash
Multiple vulnerabilities in macOS SMBClient that could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code remotely and crash systems. The vulnerabilities affecting the SMB filesystem client used for mounting r ... Read more
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Cyber Security News
CISA Warns of Zimbra Collaboration Suite (ZCS) Vulnerability Exploited in Attacks
CISA has issued an urgent warning regarding a critical vulnerability in Synacor’s Zimbra Collaboration Suite (ZCS) that is being actively exploited in cyberattacks. The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2 ... Read more
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The Hacker News
CISA Adds Four Critical Vulnerabilities to KEV Catalog Due to Active Exploitation
Cyber Attacks / Vulnerability The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) on Monday added four security flaws to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, citing evidence ... Read more
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The Hacker News
CISA Adds Four Critical Vulnerabilities to KEV Catalog Due to Active Exploitation
Jul 08, 2025Ravie LakshmananCyber Attacks / Vulnerability The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) on Monday added four security flaws to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities ... Read more
The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
CVE-2016-10033 vulnerability over time.
Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.
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CVE CISA KEV Update by 9119a7d8-5eab-497f-8521-727c672e3725
Jul. 08, 2025
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Date Added 2025-07-07 Added Due Date 2025-07-28 Added Required Action Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. Added Vulnerability Name PHPMailer Command Injection Vulnerability -
CVE Modified by 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0
Jul. 07, 2025
Action Type Old Value New Value Added CVSS V3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Added CWE CWE-88 -
CVE Modified by af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
Nov. 21, 2024
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Reference http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140291/PHPMailer-Remote-Code-Execution.html Added Reference http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140350/PHPMailer-Sendmail-Argument-Injection.html Added Reference http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2016/Dec/78 Added Reference http://www.rapid7.com/db/modules/exploit/multi/http/phpmailer_arg_injection Added Reference http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/539963/100/0/threaded Added Reference http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/95108 Added Reference http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037533 Added Reference https://developer.joomla.org/security-centre/668-20161205-phpmailer-security-advisory.html Added Reference https://github.com/PHPMailer/PHPMailer/releases/tag/v5.2.18 Added Reference https://github.com/PHPMailer/PHPMailer/wiki/About-the-CVE-2016-10033-and-CVE-2016-10045-vulnerabilities Added Reference https://legalhackers.com/advisories/PHPMailer-Exploit-Remote-Code-Exec-CVE-2016-10033-Vuln.html Added Reference https://www.drupal.org/psa-2016-004 Added Reference https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40968/ Added Reference https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40969/ Added Reference https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40970/ Added Reference https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40974/ Added Reference https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40986/ Added Reference https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41962/ Added Reference https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41996/ Added Reference https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42024/ Added Reference https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42221/ -
CVE Modified by [email protected]
May. 14, 2024
Action Type Old Value New Value -
Reanalysis by [email protected]
Feb. 14, 2024
Action Type Old Value New Value Changed Reference Type http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/539963/100/0/threaded Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/539963/100/0/threaded Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry Changed Reference Type http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/95108 Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/95108 Broken Link, Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry Changed Reference Type http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037533 Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037533 Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry Removed CWE NIST CWE-77 Added CWE NIST CWE-88 -
Modified Analysis by [email protected]
Sep. 30, 2021
Action Type Old Value New Value Removed CVSS V3 NIST AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Added CVSS V3.1 NIST AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Changed Reference Type http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140291/PHPMailer-Remote-Code-Execution.html Exploit, Third Party Advisory http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140291/PHPMailer-Remote-Code-Execution.html Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry Changed Reference Type http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140350/PHPMailer-Sendmail-Argument-Injection.html Exploit, Third Party Advisory http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140350/PHPMailer-Sendmail-Argument-Injection.html Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry Changed Reference Type http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2016/Dec/78 Mailing List, Patch http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2016/Dec/78 Mailing List, Patch, Third Party Advisory Changed Reference Type http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/539963/100/0/threaded No Types Assigned http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/539963/100/0/threaded Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry Changed Reference Type http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037533 No Types Assigned http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037533 Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry Changed Reference Type https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40968/ Exploit, Patch, Third Party Advisory https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40968/ Exploit, Patch, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry Changed Reference Type https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40969/ No Types Assigned https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40969/ Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry Changed Reference Type https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40970/ Exploit, Patch, Third Party Advisory https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40970/ Exploit, Patch, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry Changed Reference Type https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40974/ No Types Assigned https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40974/ Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry Changed Reference Type https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40986/ No Types Assigned https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40986/ Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry Changed Reference Type https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41962/ No Types Assigned https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41962/ Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry Changed Reference Type https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41996/ No Types Assigned https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41996/ Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry Changed Reference Type https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42024/ No Types Assigned https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42024/ Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry Changed Reference Type https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42221/ No Types Assigned https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42221/ Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry Changed CPE Configuration OR *cpe:2.3:a:phpmailer_project:phpmailer:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions up to (including) 5.2.17 OR *cpe:2.3:a:phpmailer_project:phpmailer:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions up to (excluding) 5.2.18 Added CPE Configuration OR *cpe:2.3:a:wordpress:wordpress:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions up to (including) 4.7 Added CPE Configuration OR *cpe:2.3:a:joomla:joomla\!:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 1.5.0 up to (including) 3.6.5 -
CVE Modified by [email protected]
Oct. 09, 2018
Action Type Old Value New Value Removed Reference http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/archive/1/539963/100/0/threaded [Exploit, Patch, Third Party Advisory] Added Reference http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/539963/100/0/threaded [No Types Assigned] -
CVE Modified by [email protected]
Sep. 03, 2017
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Reference https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40986/ [No Types Assigned] Added Reference https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40974/ [No Types Assigned] Added Reference https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40969/ [No Types Assigned] -
CVE Modified by [email protected]
Aug. 16, 2017
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Reference https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41996/ [No Types Assigned] Added Reference https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41962/ [No Types Assigned] -
CVE Modified by [email protected]
Aug. 13, 2017
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Reference https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42024/ [No Types Assigned] -
CVE Modified by [email protected]
Aug. 12, 2017
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Reference https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42221/ [No Types Assigned] -
CVE Modified by [email protected]
Jul. 27, 2017
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Reference http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037533 [No Types Assigned] -
CVE Modified by [email protected]
Jan. 26, 2017
Action Type Old Value New Value Changed Description The mailSend function in the isMail transport in PHPMailer before 5.2.18, when the Sender property is not set, 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 From address. 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. -
Modified Analysis by [email protected]
Jan. 23, 2017
Action Type Old Value New Value Changed CVSS V2 (AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P) (AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P) Changed CVSS V3 AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Changed Reference Type http://www.rapid7.com/db/modules/exploit/multi/http/phpmailer_arg_injection No Types Assigned http://www.rapid7.com/db/modules/exploit/multi/http/phpmailer_arg_injection Third Party Advisory, Exploit Changed Reference Type http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140350/PHPMailer-Sendmail-Argument-Injection.html No Types Assigned http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140350/PHPMailer-Sendmail-Argument-Injection.html Third Party Advisory, Exploit -
CVE Modified by [email protected]
Jan. 07, 2017
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Reference http://www.rapid7.com/db/modules/exploit/multi/http/phpmailer_arg_injection [No Types Assigned] Added Reference http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140350/PHPMailer-Sendmail-Argument-Injection.html [No Types Assigned] -
Initial Analysis by [email protected]
Jan. 03, 2017
Action Type Old Value New Value Added CVSS V2 (AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P) Added CVSS V3 AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Changed Reference Type https://github.com/PHPMailer/PHPMailer/releases/tag/v5.2.18 No Types Assigned https://github.com/PHPMailer/PHPMailer/releases/tag/v5.2.18 Vendor Advisory, Patch Changed Reference Type https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40970/ No Types Assigned https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40970/ Third Party Advisory, Exploit, Patch Changed Reference Type https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40968/ No Types Assigned https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40968/ Third Party Advisory, Exploit, Patch Changed Reference Type http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2016/Dec/78 No Types Assigned http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2016/Dec/78 Mailing List, Patch Changed Reference Type http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/95108 No Types Assigned http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/95108 Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry, Exploit Changed Reference Type https://github.com/PHPMailer/PHPMailer/wiki/About-the-CVE-2016-10033-and-CVE-2016-10045-vulnerabilities No Types Assigned https://github.com/PHPMailer/PHPMailer/wiki/About-the-CVE-2016-10033-and-CVE-2016-10045-vulnerabilities Vendor Advisory, Patch Changed Reference Type https://legalhackers.com/advisories/PHPMailer-Exploit-Remote-Code-Exec-CVE-2016-10033-Vuln.html No Types Assigned https://legalhackers.com/advisories/PHPMailer-Exploit-Remote-Code-Exec-CVE-2016-10033-Vuln.html Third Party Advisory, Exploit, Patch Changed Reference Type https://developer.joomla.org/security-centre/668-20161205-phpmailer-security-advisory.html No Types Assigned https://developer.joomla.org/security-centre/668-20161205-phpmailer-security-advisory.html Third Party Advisory Changed Reference Type http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140291/PHPMailer-Remote-Code-Execution.html No Types Assigned http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140291/PHPMailer-Remote-Code-Execution.html Third Party Advisory, Exploit Changed Reference Type http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/archive/1/539963/100/0/threaded No Types Assigned http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/archive/1/539963/100/0/threaded Third Party Advisory, Exploit, Patch Changed Reference Type https://www.drupal.org/psa-2016-004 No Types Assigned https://www.drupal.org/psa-2016-004 Third Party Advisory Added CWE CWE-77 Added CPE Configuration OR *cpe:2.3:a:phpmailer_project:phpmailer:5.2.17:*:*:*:*:*:*:* (and previous)
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies
specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2016-10033 is
associated with the following CWEs:
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification
(CAPEC)
stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and
approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2016-10033
weaknesses.
Exploit Prediction
EPSS is a daily estimate of the probability of exploitation activity being observed over the next 30 days.
94.45 }} 0.03%
score
0.99990
percentile