# CVE-2017-20031: PHPList information disclosure

> Remote attackers can exploit a flaw in PHPList to disclose sensitive information, such as passwords, via the sortby parameter.

- **Severity:** Low 2.7 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 10 Jun 2022
- **Updated:** 15 Apr 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-pvfq-5j8q-r5f5

## What is CVE-2017-20031?

CVE-2017-20031 is a low-severity vulnerability in unspecified PHPList, published on 10 Jun 2022. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability was found in PHPList 3.2.6. It has been declared as problematic. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality. The manipulation of the argument sortby with the input password leads to information disclosure. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. Upgrading to version 3.3.1 is able to address this issue. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Weakness: CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-20031?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Phplist Phplist.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-20031?

No fix has been published for CVE-2017-20031 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2017-20031 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2017-20031 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in unspecified PHPList

- [CVE-2020-22249](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-22249/): File upload in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-23361](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-23361/): Auth bypass in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-3188](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-3188/): Other in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-8547](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-8547/): Auth bypass in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-15072](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-15072/): SQL injection in n/a (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-20031 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-20031 is a low-severity vulnerability in unspecified PHPList, published on 10 Jun 2022. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2017-20031 exists.

Affected product: unspecified PHPList. 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-2017-20031/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-20031/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-20031
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-20031
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-20031

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-20031/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.