# CVE-2025-43919: Path traversal in Mailman

> Unauthenticated attackers may read arbitrary files via directory traversal in the Mailman private archive endpoint, though reproduction is disputed.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/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:** 20 Apr 2025
- **Updated:** 28 Apr 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-56r4-vj3r-h3vv

## What is CVE-2025-43919?

CVE-2025-43919 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in GNU Mailman, published on 20 Apr 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

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.

Weakness: CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory), CWE-24 (Path Traversal: '../filedir')

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-43919?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Gnu Mailman.

## How do I fix CVE-2025-43919?

No fix has been published for CVE-2025-43919 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2025-43919 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2025-43919 exists.

Public exploit code:

- A new vulnerability has been discovered in GNU Mailman 2.1.39, bundled with cPanel/WHM, allowing unauthenticated remote attackers to read arbitrary files on the server via a directory traversal flaw. (github_poc): https://github.com/cybersecplayground/CVE-2025-43919-POC
- https://github.com/0NYX-MY7H/CVE-2025-43919 (github_poc): https://github.com/0NYX-MY7H/CVE-2025-43919

## Other vulnerabilities in GNU Mailman

- [CVE-2016-6893](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-6893/): Cross-site request forgery in n/a (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2016-7123](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-7123/): Cross-site request forgery in n/a (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2005-4153](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2005-4153/): Denial of service in n/a (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2006-2191](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2006-2191/): Other in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2004-1143](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-1143/): Weak cryptography in n/a (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2025-43919 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2025-43919 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in GNU Mailman, published on 20 Apr 2025. 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-2025-43919 exists.

Affected product: GNU Mailman. 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-2025-43919/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-43919/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-43919
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-43919
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2025-43919

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-43919/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.