CVE-2014-0185 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
sapi/fpm/fpm/fpm_unix.c in the FastCGI Process Manager (FPM) in PHP before 5.4.28 and 5.5.x before 5.5.12 uses 0666 permissions for the UNIX socket, which allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted FastCGI client.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/12/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0185 resides within the FastCGI Process Manager component of PHP, specifically in the sapi/fpm/fpm/fpm_unix.c file. This flaw represents a critical security oversight in the permission handling mechanism of PHP's FastCGI implementation. The vulnerability affects PHP versions prior to 5.4.28 and 5.5.x versions prior to 5.5.12, creating a persistent risk for systems running these outdated versions. The issue stems from the FPM module's default configuration where UNIX socket files are created with overly permissive 0666 permissions, effectively allowing any local user to establish connections to the FastCGI service and potentially exploit the system.
The technical flaw manifests through the improper permission assignment during socket file creation within the FastCGI Process Manager. When PHP-FPM initializes its UNIX socket communication channel, it defaults to creating socket files with 0666 permissions, which grants read, write, and execute access to all users on the system. This configuration creates a privilege escalation vector because local users can craft FastCGI client requests that connect to these improperly secured sockets. The vulnerability operates under CWE-276, which specifically addresses incorrect permissions for critical resources, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers privilege escalation through local exploitation. Attackers can exploit this by creating malicious FastCGI requests that leverage the open socket to gain elevated privileges, potentially allowing them to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the PHP-FPM process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential full system compromise. Local users who can access the improperly secured socket can potentially manipulate the FastCGI communication to inject malicious requests, leading to arbitrary code execution within the context of the web server process. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no network access and operates entirely within the local system, making it difficult to detect through standard network monitoring. Systems running vulnerable PHP-FPM configurations become susceptible to attacks that could result in data breaches, system compromise, or further lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability also impacts the principle of least privilege, as it allows any local user to potentially gain access to services that should be restricted to specific system users or processes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-0185 primarily involve immediate patching of affected PHP installations to versions 5.4.28 or 5.5.12 and later. Organizations should also implement proper socket permission configurations by setting restrictive permissions on PHP-FPM socket files, typically using 0660 or more restrictive permissions. Administrators should consider running PHP-FPM under dedicated system users with minimal privileges and ensure that socket files are created in secure directories with appropriate ownership. Network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect unauthorized access attempts to FastCGI sockets, while regular security audits should verify that socket permissions are properly configured and maintained. Additionally, implementing the principle of least privilege for all system services and regularly updating all PHP components helps prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper permission handling in system components and the potential for local privilege escalation through seemingly minor configuration flaws.