High

PHPMailer vulnerable to email header injection

  • Disclosed: 06.10.2022
  • Updated: 11.10.2026 10:22

Impact

Arbitrary additional email headers can be injected via crafted From or Sender headers.

Patches

Fixed in 2.2.1

Workarounds

Filter user-supplied values prior to using them in From or Sender properties.

References

https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-0796

For more information

If you have any questions or comments about this advisory:

Affected software

Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.

PlatformPackageVulnerable versionsFixed in
Composer package phpmailer/phpmailer < 2.2.1 2.2.1

References

CVSS score -
Weakness (CWE)
CWE-94
Platform
Composer
Package
phpmailer/phpmailer
Disclosed
06.10.2022
Updated
11.10.2026 10:22

Sources and licenses

OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-398j-f7m7-795j - CC BY 4.0

Vulnerability history: phpmailer/phpmailer

All published vulnerabilities of this package (Composer package), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.

All (13) in the archive
Total entries
13
First → latest
12.2016 02.2024
Without a fix
0
Exploited in attacks
0

Severity breakdown

  • Critical 2
  • High 7
  • Medium 3
  • Low 1

Disclosures per year

  1. 2017: 0
  2. 2018: 0
  3. 2019: 0
  4. 2020: 5
  5. 2021: 3
  6. 2022: 2
  7. 2023: 0
  8. 2024: 2
  9. 2025: 0
  10. 2026: 0

earlier: 1

Severity:
  1. High CVE-2007-3215 < 1.7.4 1.7.4
  2. PHPMailer vulnerable to email header injection this entry
    High CVE-2012-0796 < 2.2.1 2.2.1
  3. High CVE-2008-5619 < 5.2.10 5.2.10
  4. Critical · 9.8 CVE-2020-36326 >= 6.1.8, < 6.4.1 6.4.1
  5. High · 7.5 CVE-2020-13625 < 6.1.6 6.1.6
  6. High · 8.8 CVE-2018-19296 >= 5.0.0, < 5.2.27, >= 6.0.0, < 6.0.6 5.2.27, 6.0.6
  7. Critical · 9.8 CVE-2016-10045 >= 5.0.0, < 5.2.18 5.2.18

Know which vulnerabilities affect your application

With the DockRay integration and software inventory enabled, DockRay checks reported component versions against known vulnerabilities and notifies you about confirmed matches. Coverage depends on the supported technology and available advisory data.

Connect your application
DockRay newsletter

Application security in your inbox

Important vulnerabilities, actionable guidance and practical advice for your applications. Choose your technologies and follow what matters to your project.

  • A daily digest of new vulnerabilities, critical ones included.
  • Notifications about important updates.
  • Practical advice on application security and monitoring.

Leave empty to receive updates for every technology.

Free to subscribe. Unsubscribe with one click in any email.