PHP up to 4.3.9/5.0.2 Safe Mode privileges management

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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8.8$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability marked as critical has been reported in PHP up to 4.3.9/5.0.2. Affected is an unknown function of the component Safe Mode. This manipulation causes privileges management. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2004-1063. Additionally, an exploit exists. It is suggested to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in PHP up to 4.3.9/5.0.2 (Programming Language Software). Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown code of the component Safe Mode. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a privileges management vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-269. The product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

PHP 4.x to 4.3.9, and PHP 5.x to 5.0.2, when running in safe mode on a multithreaded Unix webserver, allows local users to bypass safe_mode_exec_dir restrictions and execute commands outside of the intended safe_mode_exec_dir via shell metacharacters in the current directory name. NOTE: this issue was originally REJECTed by its CNA before publication, but that decision is in active dispute. This candidate may change significantly in the future as a result of further discussion.

The bug was discovered 12/15/2004. The weakness was released 12/15/2004 by Stefan Esser (Website). It is possible to read the advisory at hardened-php.net. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2004-1063 since 11/23/2004. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploitation doesn't need any form of authentication. Technical details are unknown but a public exploit is available. The attack technique deployed by this issue is T1068 according to MITRE ATT&CK.

It is possible to download the exploit at securityfocus.com. It is declared as proof-of-concept. We expect the 0-day to have been worth approximately $5k-$25k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 16001 (GLSA-200412-14 : PHP: Multiple vulnerabilities), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Gentoo Local Security Checks and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 12144 (PHP Multiple Remote Vulnerabilities).

Upgrading to version 4.x eliminates this vulnerability. A possible mitigation has been published 4 days after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (18511), Tenable (16001), SecurityFocus (BID 11964†), OSVDB (12412†) and Secunia (SA13481†). Entries connected to this vulnerability are available at VDB-1060, VDB-1059, VDB-1056 and VDB-1055. Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
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CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 9.8
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 8.8

VulDB Base Score: 9.8
VulDB Temp Score: 8.8
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
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Exploitinginfo

Class: Privileges management
CWE: CWE-269 / CWE-266
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Access: Public
Status: Proof-of-Concept
Download: 🔍

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 16001
Nessus Name: GLSA-200412-14 : PHP: Multiple vulnerabilities
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Exposure Time: 🔍

Upgrade: PHP 4.x

Timelineinfo

11/23/2004 🔍
12/15/2004 +22 days 🔍
12/15/2004 +0 days 🔍
12/15/2004 +0 days 🔍
12/15/2004 +0 days 🔍
12/16/2004 +0 days 🔍
12/16/2004 +0 days 🔍
12/19/2004 +2 days 🔍
12/19/2004 +0 days 🔍
01/10/2005 +22 days 🔍
03/16/2005 +65 days 🔍
03/10/2015 +3646 days 🔍
07/06/2025 +3771 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Product: php.org

Advisory: hardened-php.net
Researcher: Stefan Esser
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2004-1063 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2004-1063
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-23671
X-Force: 18511
SecurityFocus: 11964 - PHP Multiple Local And Remote Vulnerabilities
Secunia: 13481 - PHP Multiple Vulnerabilities, Highly Critical
OSVDB: 12412 - PHP Multithreaded safe_mode_exec_dir Restriction Bypass
Vulnerability Center: 7336 - PHP Allows Bypassing Restrictions via safe_mode_exec_dir, Medium

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161013
See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 03/10/2015 12:14
Updated: 07/06/2025 23:37
Changes: 03/10/2015 12:14 (80), 05/30/2019 20:44 (3), 07/06/2025 23:37 (20)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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