CVE-2016-10074
The mail transport (aka Swift_Transport_MailTransport) in Swift Mailer before 5.4.5 might allow remote attackers to pass extra parameters to the mail command and consequently execute arbitrary code via a \" (backslash double quote) in a crafted e-mail…
Does this matter?
EPSS puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 43.8%, higher than 99% of all known CVEs. Patch or mitigate before the next change window.
Description
The mail transport (aka Swift_Transport_MailTransport) in Swift Mailer before 5.4.5 might allow remote attackers to pass extra parameters to the mail command and consequently execute arbitrary code via a \" (backslash double quote) in a crafted e-mail address in the (1) From, (2) ReturnPath, or (3) Sender header.
- CVSS 3.0
- 9.8 CRITICALCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 43.79% probability · 99th percentile
- Public exploits
- 3 in Exploit-DB · first 28 December 2016
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-77
- Affected
- swiftmailer/swiftmailer
- Source
- cve@mitre.org
EPSS moved from 36.9% on 21 September 2026 to 43.8% on 26 October 2026. The dashed line is the ten per cent mark our analysts treat as “patch before the next change window”.
Public exploits (3)
Entries in Exploit-DB that cite this CVE. Links go to the Exploit-DB page and to the file in the public repository; nothing is hosted here. A verified tick means the Exploit-DB team confirmed the exploit works against the stated version.
| EDB-ID | Title | Type | Published | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EDB-42221source ↗ | PHPMailer < 5.2.20 with Exim MTA - Remote Code Executionphp · phackt_ul | webapps | 21 June 2017 | no |
| EDB-40986source ↗ | PHPMailer < 5.2.20 / SwiftMailer < 5.4.5-DEV / Zend Framework / zend-mail < 2.4.11 - 'AIO' 'PwnScriptum' Remote Code Executionphp · Dawid Golunski | webapps | 2 January 2017 | no |
| EDB-40972source ↗ | SwiftMailer < 5.4.5-DEV - Remote Code Executionphp · Dawid Golunski | webapps | 28 December 2016 | no |
References
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140290/SwiftMailer-Remote-Code-Execution.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2016/Dec/86Exploit, Mailing List
- http://www.debian.org/security/2017/dsa-3769
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/95140Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://github.com/swiftmailer/swiftmailer/blob/5.x/CHANGESPatch, Vendor Advisory
- https://legalhackers.com/advisories/SwiftMailer-Exploit-Remote-Code-Exec-CVE-2016-10074-Vuln.htmlExploit, Technical Description, Third Party Advisory
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40972/Exploit, Third Party Advisory
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40986/
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42221/
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140290/SwiftMailer-Remote-Code-Execution.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2016/Dec/86Exploit, Mailing List
- http://www.debian.org/security/2017/dsa-3769
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/95140Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://github.com/swiftmailer/swiftmailer/blob/5.x/CHANGESPatch, Vendor Advisory
- https://legalhackers.com/advisories/SwiftMailer-Exploit-Remote-Code-Exec-CVE-2016-10074-Vuln.htmlExploit, Technical Description, Third Party Advisory
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40972/Exploit, Third Party Advisory
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40986/
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42221/
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.