CVE-2011-4912Network attack vector

Automated email sending via timeout bypass

Published Feb 4, 2020 · Updated Aug 7, 2024

Timeout bypass in Joomla! CMS com_mailto 1.5.13 and earlier allows remote attackers to send automated email through its public mail form. The component fails to enforce its automated-mail timeout, but Joomla has not disclosed the precise validation error that permits the bypass. Unauthenticated network access to an exposed com_mailto form is sufficient, and the documented consequence is unauthorized email sending rather than code execution or data access.

CVSS severity5.3
Medium
EPSS probability0.77%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Timeout bypass in Joomla! CMS com_mailto 1.5.13 and earlier allows remote attackers to send automated email through its public mail form. The component fails to enforce its automated-mail timeout, but Joomla has not disclosed the precise validation error that permits the bypass. Unauthenticated network access to an exposed com_mailto form is sufficient, and the documented consequence is unauthorized email sending rather than code execution or data access.

The record

CVE
CVE-2011-4912
Published
Feb 4, 2020
Updated
Aug 7, 2024
Vendor
Joomla
Product
Joomla! CMS
Classifications
CWE-732
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 4, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 7, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=All 1.5.x prior to and including 1.5.13

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Joomla · Joomla! CMSversion=All 1.5.x prior to and including 1.5.13

Published CVSS scores

5.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N
5.3NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-732Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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