# CVE-2011-4453: Code injection in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code in PmWiki via crafted order parameters in pagelist directives due to unsafe PHP function usage.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 22 Dec 2011
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-w4rg-9v64-h6w4

## What is CVE-2011-4453?

CVE-2011-4453 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in n/a, published on 22 Dec 2011. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The PageListSort function in scripts/pagelist.php in PmWiki 2.x before 2.2.35 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via PHP sequences in a crafted order parameter in a pagelist directive, leading to unintended use of the PHP create_function function.

Weakness: CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2011-4453?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Pmwiki Pmwiki.

## How do I fix CVE-2011-4453?

No fix has been published for CVE-2011-4453 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2011-4453 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2011-4453 exists.

Public exploit code:

- PmWiki pagelist.php Remote PHP Code Injection Exploit (metasploit)
- PmWiki 2.2.34 - 'pagelist' Remote PHP Code Injection (1) (exploitdb)
- PmWiki 2.2.34 - 'pagelist' Remote PHP Code Injection (2) (Metasploit) (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2006-2840](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2006-2840/): Cross-site scripting in n/a (medium 6.8)
- [CVE-2010-4662](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-4662/): PmWiki before 2.2.21 has XSS. (medium 6.1)
- [CVE-2010-4748](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-4748/): Cross-site scripting in n/a (medium 4.3)
- [CVE-2006-4453](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2006-4453/): Cross-site scripting in n/a (medium 4.3)
- [CVE-2006-0479](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2006-0479/): Security feature bypass in n/a (medium 4.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2011-4453 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2011-4453 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in n/a, published on 22 Dec 2011. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2011-4453 exists.

Affected product: n/a. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-4453/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-4453/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2011-4453
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-4453
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2011-4453

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-4453/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.