CVE-2005-2432 in PHPList
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in PhpList allows remote attackers to modify SQL statements via the id argument to admin pages such as (1) members or (2) admin.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/10/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-2432 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the PhpList email management system that was discovered in 2005. This vulnerability resides in the administrative interfaces of PhpList, specifically affecting the members and admin pages where user input is not properly sanitized before being incorporated into database queries. The flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate the underlying SQL statements through the id parameter, potentially enabling unauthorized access to sensitive data and system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects administrative functions that typically require elevated privileges and contain sensitive information about users and system configurations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the PhpList application's administrative components. When administrators navigate to pages such as members or admin sections, the application accepts an id parameter that is directly concatenated into SQL queries without adequate sanitization or parameterization. This classic input handling flaw creates an environment where malicious actors can inject arbitrary SQL code through the id argument, effectively bypassing authentication mechanisms and potentially gaining full administrative control over the email list management system. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses in software applications, and represents a fundamental failure in input validation and query construction practices.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-2432 extends beyond simple data theft, encompassing full system compromise and potential lateral movement within network environments. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could enumerate user databases, extract confidential information including email addresses and user credentials, modify existing records, or even delete critical system data. The administrative access gained through this vulnerability enables attackers to manipulate email lists, potentially sending spam or phishing emails from the compromised system, and could lead to further security breaches within organizations relying on PhpList for their email communications. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input sanitization and parameterized queries in preventing database injection attacks that have been consistently documented in the cybersecurity industry since the early 2000s.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement multiple layers of defense including patching the application to the latest version that addresses the input validation issues, implementing proper parameterized queries in all database interactions, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious SQL injection attempts. The remediation process should also include comprehensive security auditing of all administrative interfaces and input handling mechanisms within the application. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving SQL injection and privilege escalation, with potential lateral movement opportunities once administrative access is obtained. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their email management systems and implement proper access controls and monitoring to detect unauthorized administrative activities that could indicate exploitation of this vulnerability.