# CVE-2013-6172: SQL injection in n/a

> Remote attackers can modify configuration settings to execute arbitrary code, read files, and perform SQL injection in Roundcube webmail.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 5 Nov 2013
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2013-6172, DSA-2787-1, GHSA-pq43-cvv2-h373, MGASA-2013-0325

## What is CVE-2013-6172?

CVE-2013-6172 is a high-severity SQL injection vulnerability in Roundcube Webmail, published on 5 Nov 2013. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

steps/utils/save_pref.inc in Roundcube webmail before 0.8.7 and 0.9.x before 0.9.5 allows remote attackers to modify configuration settings via the _session parameter, which can be leveraged to read arbitrary files, conduct SQL injection attacks, and execute arbitrary code.

Weakness: CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2013-6172?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Roundcube Webmail.

## How do I fix CVE-2013-6172?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2013-6172 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2013-6172 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Roundcube Webmail

- [CVE-2024-42009](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-42009/): RoundCube Webmail Cross-Site Scripting (critical 9.3, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-68461](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-68461/): RoundCube Webmail Cross-site Scripting (high 7.2, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2008-5619](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-5619/): PHPMailer susceptible to arbitrary code execution (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2024-37385](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-37385/): Command injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2024-42008](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-42008/): Cross-site scripting in n/a (critical 9.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2013-6172 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2013-6172 is a high-severity SQL injection vulnerability in Roundcube Webmail, published on 5 Nov 2013. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2013-6172 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Roundcube Webmail. 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-2013-6172/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6172/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2013-6172
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-6172
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2013-6172

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6172/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.