CVE-2020-36326 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

PHPMailer 6.1.8 through 6.4.0 is vulnerable to object injection through Phar Deserialization, allowing exploitation via addAttachment with a UNC pathname.

Understanding CVE-2020-36326

PHPMailer 6.1.8 through 6.4.0 allows object injection through Phar Deserialization via addAttachment with a UNC pathname.

What is CVE-2020-36326?

PHPMailer versions 6.1.8 through 6.4.0 are susceptible to object injection through Phar Deserialization when using addAttachment with a UNC pathname.
The issue arose due to a functionality fix in version 6.1.8, inadvertently removing code that prevented addAttachment exploitation.

The Impact of CVE-2020-36326

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to inject malicious objects, potentially leading to unauthorized actions or data manipulation.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-36326

PHPMailer 6.1.8 through 6.4.0 is affected by a vulnerability that allows object injection through Phar Deserialization.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability enables attackers to perform object injection via addAttachment with a UNC pathname.

Affected Systems and Versions

PHPMailer versions 6.1.8 through 6.4.0 are affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by utilizing addAttachment with a UNC pathname to inject malicious objects.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to take immediate steps to mitigate the risks posed by CVE-2020-36326.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update PHPMailer to a patched version that addresses the vulnerability.
Implement proper input validation to prevent malicious input.
Monitor and restrict network access to potentially vulnerable systems.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and libraries to the latest secure versions.
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify and address vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and promptly apply patches released by PHPMailer to fix the vulnerability.