Path traversal in GNU Mailman
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Information disclosure
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · None · None
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-22 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
GNU Mailman 2.1.39, as bundled in cPanel (and WHM), allows unauthenticated attackers to read arbitrary files via ../ directory traversal at /mailman/private/mailman (aka the private archive authentication endpoint) via the username parameter. NOTE: multiple third parties report that they are unable to reproduce this, regardless of whether cPanel or WHM is used.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- Poc
- Automatable
- Yes
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-43919
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-56r4-vj3r-h3vv
References
More GNU Mailman vulnerabilities
- TI-2025-28487 OS command injection in GNU Mailman CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.1
- TI-2025-28488 Incorrect authorization in GNU Mailman CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.3
- TI-2015-02450 Directory traversal vulnerability in GNU Mailman before 2.1.20, when not using a static… CVSS 2.0HIGH 7.6
- TI-2002-00830 Cross-site scripting vulnerability in Mailman before 2.0.12 allows remote attackers to… CVSS 2.0HIGH 7.5
- TI-2002-00374 Cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in Mailman before 2.0.11 allow remote attackers to… CVSS 2.0HIGH 7.5
- TI-2016-06122 Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the admin web interface in GNU Mailman… CVSS 3.0HIGH 8.8
Sources
- CVE-2025-43919 · CVE Program
- CVE-2025-43919 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-56r4-vj3r-h3vv · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
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