CVE-2017-7692Squirrelmail Vulnerability
squirrelmail: Insufficient escaping of user-supplied data
Published Apr 19, 2017 · Updated Mar 9, 2026 · Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2017-7692, DLA-941-1, DSA-3852-1, UBUNTU-CVE-2017-7692
Key Facts
Patch immediately- CVE-2017-7692 is a high-severity vulnerability (CVSS 8.8 v3.1) affecting Squirrelmail.
- It is exploited in the wild, listed in Industry KEV feed since May 20, 2026. Public exploit code is available.
- EPSS estimates a 32% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- Fixed versions are available, including Squirrelmail 2:1.4.23~svn20120406-2+deb7u1, Squirrelmail 2:1.4.23~svn20120406-2+deb8u1, Squirrelmail 2:1.4.23~svn20120406-2+deb8u1build0.14.04.1.
- Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.
Scores
CVSS v3.1
8.8
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS (30-day exploit likelihood)
32%
Higher than 98.3% of all scored CVEs
Exploit maturity
Proof of concept
ATLAS score
43/100
Publication score, see How it works
Exploitation Verdict
KEV listed
May 20, 2026
Federal due date
None
No federal due date
Ransomware use
Not reported
Attributed actors
None named
Exploit & Defence Guidance
Exploit maturity
Proof of concept
Public exploit code
1
Proof-of-concept links
In-the-wild evidence
2
Reports of active use
Advisories And Exploit References
Description
SquirrelMail 1.4.22 (and other versions before 20170427_0200-SVN) allows post-authentication remote code execution via a sendmail.cf file that is mishandled in a popen call. It's possible to exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary shell commands on the remote server. The problem is in the Deliver_SendMail.class.php with the initStream function that uses escapeshellcmd() to sanitize the sendmail command before executing it.
The use of escapeshellcmd() is not correct in this case since it doesn't escape whitespaces, allowing the injection of arbitrary command parameters. The problem is in -f$envelopefrom within the sendmail command line.
Hence, if the target server uses sendmail and SquirrelMail is configured to use it as a command-line program, it's possible to trick sendmail into using an attacker-provided configuration file that triggers the execution of an arbitrary command. For exploitation, the attacker must upload a sendmail.cf file as an email attachment, and inject the sendmail.cf filename with the -C option within the "Options > Personal Informations > Email Address" setting.
Known-Exploited Catalog Listings
| Catalog | Added | Remediation due | Ransomware use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Industry KEV feed | May 20, 2026 | n/a | Not reported |
Affected Products
4 affected entries in total| Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| SquirrelmailSquirrelmail | 1.4.22 | 2:1.4.23~svn20120406-2+deb7u1 |
Patched Releases
Squirrelmail
2:1.4.23~svn20120406-2+deb7u1, 2:1.4.23~svn20120406-2+deb8u1, 2:1.4.23~svn20120406-2+deb8u1build0.14.04.1, 2:1.4.23~svn20120406-2+deb8u1ubuntu0.16.04.1
Timeline
Publicly disclosed
Apr 19, 2017
Last updated
Mar 9, 2026
Added to Industry KEV feed
May 20, 2026
Weakness Type
- CWE-20 Improper Input Validation
References
- advisoryubuntu.com · CVE-2017-7692
- advisorycve.org · CVERecord
- advisoryopenwall.com · 6
- advisoryopenwall.com · 6
- exploitlegalhackers.com · CVE-2017-7692
FAQ
Common Questions.
SquirrelMail 1.4.22 (and other versions before 20170427_0200-SVN) allows post-authentication remote code execution via a sendmail.cf file that is mishandled in a popen call.
Affected: Squirrelmail versions 1.4.22. The full list is in the CVE brief.
It is exploited in the wild, listed in Industry KEV feed since May 20, 2026.
No, it is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
Public exploit code is available.
Fixed versions are available, including Squirrelmail 2:1.4.23~svn20120406-2+deb7u1, Squirrelmail 2:1.4.23~svn20120406-2+deb8u1, Squirrelmail 2:1.4.23~svn20120406-2+deb8u1build0.14.04.1.
Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.
Is CVE-2017-7692 On Your Attack Surface?
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