CVE-2005-1921: Eval injection vulnerability in PEAR XML_RPC 1.3.0 and earlier (aka XML-RPC or xmlrpc) and PHPXMLRPC (aka XML-

Q: How do I fix CVE-2005-1921?

xml rpc: upgrade to newer than 1.3.0; phpxmlrpc: upgrade to newer than 1.1; drupal: upgrade to 4.5.4, 4.6.2. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2005-1921 being exploited?

CVE-2005-1921 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

Q: What does CVE-2005-1921 affect?

CVE-2005-1921 affects xml rpc, phpxmlrpc, drupal. Severity is high (CVSS 7.5). Eval injection vulnerability in PEAR XML_RPC 1.3.0 and earlier (aka XML-RPC or xmlrpc) and PHPXMLRPC (aka XML-RPC For PHP or php-xmlrpc) 1.1 and earlier, as used in products such as (1) WordPress, (2) Serendipity, (3) Drupal, (4) egroupware

Q: How urgent is CVE-2005-1921?

Priority 61/100. High severity; EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference; On your watchlist

This week

HIGH 7.5WATCHLISTUPGRADEUPGRADEUPGRADE

CVE-2005-1921 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.5) affecting xml rpc, phpxmlrpc, drupal. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Eval injection vulnerability in PEAR XML_RPC 1.3.0 and earlier (aka XML-RPC or xmlrpc) and PHPXMLRPC (aka XML-RPC For PHP or php-xmlrpc) 1.1 and earlier, as used in products such as (1) WordPress, (2) Serendipity, (3) Drupal, (4) egroupware, (5) MailWatch, (6) TikiWiki, (7) phpWebSite, (8) Ampache, and others, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via an XML file, which is not properly sanitized before being used in an eval statem

Why this priority

High severity
EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited
Public exploit reference
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	7.5 (High)
EPSS exploit chance	79.1% (top 1%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-94
Published	2005-07-05
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): Red Hat, Inc. · Vendor: debian · drupal · gggeek · php · tiki

Last updated 2026-06-16 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2005-07-05 04:00 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 22:13 UTCUpdated Record last modified

php xml rpc UPGRADE

Affected: <= 1.3.0

Fixed in: newer than 1.3.0

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy xml-rpc || rpm -q xml-rpc || xml-rpc --version

2. UPGRADE to newer than 1.3.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade xml-rpc

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade xml-rpc

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

gggeek phpxmlrpc UPGRADE

Affected: <= 1.1

Fixed in: newer than 1.1

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy phpxmlrpc || rpm -q phpxmlrpc || phpxmlrpc --version

2. UPGRADE to newer than 1.1 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade phpxmlrpc

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade phpxmlrpc

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

drupal drupal UPGRADE

Affected: < 4.5.4 · >= 4.6.0 and < 4.6.2

Fixed in: 4.5.4, 4.6.2

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 4.6.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy drupal || rpm -q drupal || drupal --version

2. UPGRADE to 4.5.4 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade drupal

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade drupal

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 4.6.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison drupal sudo apt install drupal=<VERSION_BEFORE_4.6.0> sudo apt-mark hold drupal

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list drupal sudo dnf downgrade drupal-<VERSION_BEFORE_4.6.0> sudo dnf versionlock add drupal

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

tiki tikiwiki cms\/groupware UPGRADE

Affected: < 1.8.5

Fixed in: 1.8.5

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy tikiwiki-cmsgroupware || rpm -q tikiwiki-cmsgroupware || tikiwiki-cmsgroupware --version

2. UPGRADE to 1.8.5 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade tikiwiki-cmsgroupware

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade tikiwiki-cmsgroupware

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

debian debian linux MITIGATE

Affected: 3.1

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 3.1

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

Exploit-DB: PHPXMLRPC < 1.1 - Remote Code Execution
Exploit-DB: XML-RPC Library 1.3.0 - 'xmlrpc.php' Arbitrary Code Execution (Metasploit)
Exploit-DB: XML-RPC Library 1.3.0 - 'xmlrpc.php' Remote Code Injection
Exploit-DB: XML-RPC Library 1.3.0 - 'xmlrpc.php' Remote Command Execution (2)
Exploit-DB: XML-RPC Library 1.3.0 - 'xmlrpc.php' Remote Command Execution (3)
Metasploit: PHP XML-RPC Arbitrary Code Execution

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2005-1921?

xml rpc: upgrade to newer than 1.3.0; phpxmlrpc: upgrade to newer than 1.1; drupal: upgrade to 4.5.4, 4.6.2. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2005-1921 being exploited?

CVE-2005-1921 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2005-1921 affect?

CVE-2005-1921 affects xml rpc, phpxmlrpc, drupal. Severity is high (CVSS 7.5). Eval injection vulnerability in PEAR XML_RPC 1.3.0 and earlier (aka XML-RPC or xmlrpc) and PHPXMLRPC (aka XML-RPC For PHP or php-xmlrpc) 1.1 and earlier, as used in products such as (1) WordPress, (2) Serendipity, (3) Drupal, (4) egroupware

How urgent is CVE-2005-1921?

Priority 61/100. High severity; EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference; On your watchlist

Software pages

WordPress vulnerabilities · Drupal vulnerabilities · PHP vulnerabilities · Debian vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2006-0868 HIGH 7.5 DOWNGRADE Multiple unspecified injection vulnerabilities in unspecified Auth Container back ends for PEAR::Auth before 1

References

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