PHP 4.0.5 mail privileges management

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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6.6$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in PHP 4.0.5. The affected element is the function mail. The manipulation leads to privileges management. This vulnerability is listed as CVE-2001-1246. In addition, an exploit is available. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in PHP 4.0.5 (Programming Language Software). This issue affects the function mail. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a privileges management vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-269. The product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

PHP 4.0.5 through 4.1.0 in safe mode does not properly cleanse the 5th parameter to the mail() function, which allows local users and possibly remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters.

The weakness was presented 06/30/2001 by Joost Pol (Website). The advisory is shared at iss.net. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2001-1246. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is needed for a successful exploitation. Technical details as well as a public exploit are known. MITRE ATT&CK project uses the attack technique T1068 for this issue.

The exploit is available at securityfocus.com. It is declared as proof-of-concept. We expect the 0-day to have been worth approximately $5k-$25k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 13960 (Mandrake Linux Security Advisory : php (MDKSA-2002:059)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Mandriva Local Security Checks and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 115006 (Red Hat PHP SafeMode Arbitrary File Execution Vulnerability).

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability. A possible mitigation has been published 2 years after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (6787), Exploit-DB (20985), Tenable (13960), SecurityFocus (BID 2954†) and Vulnerability Center (SBV-367†). See VDB-17726 for similar entry. Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
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CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.6

VulDB Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Temp Score: 6.6
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
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Exploitinginfo

Class: Privileges management
CWE: CWE-269 / CWE-266
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Access: Public
Status: Proof-of-Concept
Download: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 13960
Nessus Name: Mandrake Linux Security Advisory : php (MDKSA-2002:059)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍
Nessus Port: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Exploit-DB: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

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Timelineinfo

06/30/2001 🔍
06/30/2001 +0 days 🔍
06/30/2001 +0 days 🔍
06/30/2001 +0 days 🔍
09/10/2002 +437 days 🔍
12/12/2002 +93 days 🔍
07/31/2004 +597 days 🔍
07/04/2014 +3625 days 🔍
09/27/2025 +4103 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Product: php.org

Advisory: iss.net
Researcher: Joost Pol
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2001-1246 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2001-1246
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-16913
X-Force: 6787
SecurityFocus: 2954 - PHP SafeMode Arbitrary File Execution Vulnerability
Vulnerability Center: 367 - PHP 4.0.5 - 4.1.0 in Safe Mode Enables Arbitrary File Execution, Low

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161013
See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 07/05/2014 00:37
Updated: 09/27/2025 14:31
Changes: 07/05/2014 00:37 (66), 05/06/2019 15:26 (8), 12/28/2024 19:17 (19), 09/27/2025 14:31 (2)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

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