Description
The masort function in lib/functions.php in phpLDAPadmin 1.2.x before 1.2.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via the orderby parameter (aka sortby variable) in a query_engine action to cmd.php, as exploited in the wild in October 2011.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | phpldapadmin | 1.2.0.5-2.1 | — |
| Debian 13 | phpldapadmin | 1.2.0.5-2.1 | — |
| Debian 12 | phpldapadmin | 1.2.0.5-2.1 | — |
| Debian 6.0 | phpldapadmin | 1.2.0.5-2+squeeze1 | DSA-2333-1 |
| Debian 5.0 | phpldapadmin | 1.1.0.5-6+lenny2 | DSA-2333-1 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Metasploit 1 module
-
phpLDAPadmin query_engine Remote PHP Code Injection
exploit/multi/http/phpldapadmin_query_engine
Exploit-DB 2
- phpLDAPadmin 1.2.1.1 - Remote PHP Code Injection (Metasploit) (2) EDB-18031 · webapps · Oct 25, 2011 · verified
- phpLDAPadmin 1.2.1.1 - Remote PHP Code Injection (1) EDB-18021 · webapps · Oct 23, 2011 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 1
- DSA-2333-1 phpldapadmin - several issues Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- http://sourceforge.net/tracker/index.php?func=detail&aid=3417184&group_id=61828&atid=498546
- 76594 vdb-entry
- 50331 vdb-entry
- [oss-security] 20111025 Re: CVE request: phpldapadmin <= 1.2.1.1 XSS and and code injection flaws mailing-list
- 18021 exploit
- http://phpldapadmin.git.sourceforge.net/git/gitweb.cgi?p=phpldapadmin/phpldapadmin%3Ba=blobdiff%3Bf=lib/functions.php%3Bh=eb160dc9f7d74e563131e21d4c85d7849a0c6638%3Bhp=19fde9974d4e5eb3bfac04bb223ccbefdb98f9a0%3Bhb=76e6dad13ef77c5448b8dfed1a61e4acc7241165%3Bhpb=5d4245f93ae6f065e7535f268e3cd87a23b07744
- http://dev.metasploit.com/redmine/issues/5820
- 46672 third-party-advisory
- 46551 third-party-advisory
- [oss-security] 20111024 CVE request: phpldapadmin <= 1.2.1.1 XSS and and code injection flaws mailing-list
- http://phpldapadmin.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
- DSA-2333 vendor-advisory