CVE-2002-0277 in Mailman Free
Summary
by MITRE
Add2it Mailman Free 1.73 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in the list parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/21/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-0277 represents a critical command injection flaw within the Add2it Mailman Free version 1.73 and earlier. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing. The vulnerability specifically affects the list parameter handling within the mail management system, creating an exploitable condition where malicious actors can inject shell metacharacters to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in commands. The flaw occurs when the application directly incorporates user input into system commands without proper sanitization or escaping mechanisms. Attackers can manipulate the list parameter to include shell metacharacters such as semicolons, ampersands, or backticks that get interpreted by the system shell, enabling unauthorized command execution with the privileges of the web application process. This represents a classic command injection vulnerability that has been consistently documented across security frameworks and threat intelligence platforms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access to the system, potentially escalating privileges to execute administrative commands, access sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system, as attackers can modify system configurations, exfiltrate data, or disrupt services. Organizations using vulnerable versions of Add2it Mailman Free face significant risk of compromise, particularly in environments where the application runs with elevated privileges or has access to sensitive network resources.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the affected software to version 1.74 or later where the input validation has been properly implemented. System administrators should implement proper input sanitization techniques including parameterized queries, escaping of special characters, and validation of user inputs against known safe character sets. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be configured to limit access to the vulnerable application, while monitoring systems should be deployed to detect suspicious command execution patterns. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and runtime application self-protection mechanisms as additional layers of defense. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patched versions to ensure that the vulnerability has been properly addressed without introducing new issues. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation and proper security practices in web application development, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter.