CVE-2011-1682 in PHPList
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerabilities in phpList 2.10.13 and earlier allow remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that (1) create a list or (2) insert cross-site scripting (XSS) sequences. NOTE: this issue exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2011-0748. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2011-1682 represents a critical cross-site request forgery weakness affecting phpList versions 2.10.13 and earlier. This flaw specifically targets administrator authentication mechanisms within the web application, creating a dangerous scenario where remote attackers can manipulate authenticated sessions to execute unauthorized administrative actions. The vulnerability operates by exploiting the incomplete remediation of a previous CSRF issue, demonstrating how inadequate fixes can leave systems vulnerable to continued exploitation. The presence of this vulnerability in a widely used email list management system poses significant risks to organizations relying on phpList for their communication infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability allows attackers to craft malicious requests that appear legitimate to the phpList application's authentication system. When administrators perform actions such as creating new lists or inserting cross-site scripting sequences, the application fails to properly validate that these requests originate from authorized users. This validation gap enables attackers to leverage existing administrator sessions to perform unauthorized operations without needing valid credentials. The vulnerability specifically affects two distinct administrative functions within the application, making it particularly dangerous as it could allow attackers to expand their influence within the system or inject malicious content into the application's interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with the ability to manipulate the core functionality of the email list management system. Attackers could create malicious lists that serve as entry points for further attacks or inject XSS payloads that could compromise other users who interact with the compromised system. The fact that this vulnerability stems from an incomplete fix for CVE-2011-0748 indicates a pattern of insufficient security remediation that organizations should be particularly vigilant about when evaluating their security patches. This situation highlights the importance of thorough vulnerability assessment and proper validation of security fixes before deployment.
Organizations utilizing phpList should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability. The primary recommendation involves applying the latest available security patches from the phpList development team, as this vulnerability represents a clear security regression that requires proper remediation. Additionally, implementing proper CSRF token validation mechanisms within the application would provide an additional layer of protection against such attacks. Security teams should also conduct thorough assessments of their phpList installations to identify any other potential CSRF vulnerabilities that may have been introduced through similar incomplete fixes. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery weaknesses in software applications. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving credential access and privilege escalation, as attackers can leverage administrative sessions to gain elevated system control. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious administrative activities that might indicate exploitation attempts.