CVE-2009-2378 in Jax FormMailer
Summary
by MITRE
PHP remote file inclusion vulnerability in formmailer.admin.inc.php in Jax FormMailer 3.0.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via a URL in the BASE_DIR[jax_formmailer] parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-2378 represents a critical remote file inclusion flaw in the Jax FormMailer 3.0.0 web application. This issue resides within the formmailer.admin.inc.php file where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user input before incorporating it into file system operations. The vulnerability specifically affects the BASE_DIR[jax_formmailer] parameter which is used to define the base directory path for form mailer functionality. When an attacker can manipulate this parameter with a malicious URL, the application's insecure coding practices allow arbitrary PHP code execution, making this a severe security risk that can compromise entire web servers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the BASE_DIR parameter which is processed without adequate input validation or sanitization. The flaw stems from the application's reliance on user-supplied input for critical path resolution operations, creating a path traversal condition that enables attackers to inject malicious URLs. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-88, which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in an expression, and CWE-94, which covers the execution of arbitrary code or commands. The lack of proper input sanitization and validation creates an environment where attackers can inject malicious file paths that get executed by the PHP interpreter, effectively granting remote code execution capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data theft or service disruption. Attackers can leverage this flaw to establish persistent backdoors, install malware, or completely compromise the web server hosting the vulnerable application. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access or prior authentication. This vulnerability can be classified under ATT&CK technique T1190, which describes exploitation of remote services, and T1059, which covers execution through scripting. The compromised server can then be used as a launching point for further attacks against internal networks, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where it could serve as an initial access vector for broader security breaches.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-2378 require immediate patching of the vulnerable Jax FormMailer application to version 3.0.1 or later, which contains the necessary input validation fixes. Organizations should implement strict input validation measures that sanitize all user-supplied data before processing, particularly for parameters that influence file system operations. Network segmentation and firewall rules can help limit the exposure of vulnerable applications to external threats, while regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other web applications. The implementation of web application firewalls and runtime application self-protection mechanisms can provide additional layers of defense against such attacks, and regular security training for development teams can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future applications.