CVE-2012-4036: Unrestricted file upload vulnerability in admin.php in PBBoard 2.1.4 allows remote administrators to execute a

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MEDIUM 6.8DOWNGRADE

CVE-2012-4036 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 6.8) affecting pbboard. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Unrestricted file upload vulnerability in admin.php in PBBoard 2.1.4 allows remote administrators to execute arbitrary PHP code by uploading a file with an executable extension, then accessing it via a direct request to the file in the addons directory. NOTE: this vulnerability can be leveraged by remote attackers using CVE-2012-1216.

Why this priority

Public exploit reference

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	6.8 (Medium)
EPSS exploit chance	2.6% (top 15%)
CISA exploited list	No
Published	2012-08-27
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: pbboard

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2012-08-27 23:55 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 23:44 UTCUpdated Record last modified

pbboard pbboard DOWNGRADE

Affected: 2.1.4

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2.1.4

1. Check installed version

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

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 2.1.4 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison pbboard sudo apt install pbboard=<VERSION_BEFORE_2.1.4> sudo apt-mark hold pbboard

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list pbboard sudo dnf downgrade pbboard-<VERSION_BEFORE_2.1.4> sudo dnf versionlock add pbboard

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.

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: PBBoard - 'admin.php?xml_name' Arbitrary PHP 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-2012-4036?

pbboard: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2012-4036 being exploited?

CVE-2012-4036 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-2012-4036 affect?

CVE-2012-4036 affects pbboard. Severity is medium (CVSS 6.8). Unrestricted file upload vulnerability in admin.php in PBBoard 2.1.4 allows remote administrators to execute arbitrary PHP code by uploading a file with an executable extension, then accessing it via a direct request to the file in the addo

How urgent is CVE-2012-4036?

Priority 50/100. Public exploit reference

Software pages

PHP vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2014-9215 HIGH 7.5 UPGRADE SQL injection vulnerability in the CheckEmail function in includes/functions.class.php in PBBoard 3.0.1 before
CVE-2012-4035 HIGH 7.5 DOWNGRADE The new_password page in PBBoard 2.1.4 allows remote attackers to change the password of arbitrary user accoun
CVE-2012-4034 HIGH 7.5 DOWNGRADE Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in PBBoard 2.1.4 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL comman
CVE-2012-1216 MEDIUM 6.8 DOWNGRADE Multiple cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerabilities in admin.php in PBBoard 2.1.4 allow remote attacker

References

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