CVE-2020-4043Network attack vector

Arbitrary code execution via Phar archive deserialization

Published Jun 10, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Deserialization in phpMussel before 1.6.0 allows remote authenticated users to execute code by uploading a crafted Phar archive. The archive-scanning path invokes PHP's Phar wrapper on attacker-controlled archive content, causing embedded data to be deserialized. Exploitation requires file-submission access and enabled archive checking, which was the default, and executes code in the scanner's PHP process.

CVSS severity7.7
High
EPSS probability2.60%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Deserialization in phpMussel before 1.6.0 allows remote authenticated users to execute code by uploading a crafted Phar archive. The archive-scanning path invokes PHP's Phar wrapper on attacker-controlled archive content, causing embedded data to be deserialized. Exploitation requires file-submission access and enabled archive checking, which was the default, and executes code in the scanner's PHP process.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-4043
Published
Jun 10, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
phpMussel
Product
phpMussel
Classifications
CWE-502, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 10, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 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=>= 1.0.0, < 1.6.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

phpMussel · phpMusselversion=>= 1.0.0, < 1.6.0

Published CVSS scores

7.7GitHubCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N
9.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.5NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-502Deserialization of Untrusted Data
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

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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