# CVE-2016-9484: Path traversal in Generator

> Remote attackers can exploit path traversal in generated PHP forms to access arbitrary files on the server.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 13 Jul 2018
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-r29g-5mgx-4588

## What is CVE-2016-9484?

CVE-2016-9484 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in PHP FormMail Generator, published on 13 Jul 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The generated PHP form code does not properly validate user input folder directories, allowing a remote unauthenticated attacker to perform a path traversal and access arbitrary files on the server. The PHP FormMail Generator website does not use version numbers and is updated continuously. Any PHP form code generated by this website prior to 2016-12-06 may be vulnerable.

Weakness: CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-9484?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Jqueryform Php Formmail Generator.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-9484?

No fix has been published for CVE-2016-9484 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2016-9484 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-9484 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in PHP FormMail Generator

- [CVE-2016-9482](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-9482/): Auth bypass in Generator (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2016-9483](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-9483/): Deserialization in Generator (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2016-9492](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-9492/): PHP forms generated using the PHP FormMail Generator are vulnerable to unrestricted upload of dangerous file types (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2016-9493](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-9493/): PHP forms generated using the PHP FormMail Generator are vulnerable to stored cross-site scripting (medium 6.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-9484 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-9484 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in PHP FormMail Generator, published on 13 Jul 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-9484 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: PHP FormMail Generator. 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-2016-9484/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-9484/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-9484
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-9484
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-9484

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-9484/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.