PHP up to 5.1.6 _ecalloc code injection

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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6.7$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability described as critical has been identified in PHP. This vulnerability affects the function _ecalloc. Such manipulation leads to code injection. This vulnerability is listed as CVE-2006-4812. The attack may be performed from remote. In addition, an exploit is available. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in PHP (Programming Language Software) and classified as critical. Affected by this issue is the function _ecalloc. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a code injection vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-94. The product constructs all or part of a code segment using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the syntax or behavior of the intended code segment. Impacted is availability. CVE summarizes:

Integer overflow in PHP 5 up to 5.1.6 and 4 before 4.3.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via an argument to the unserialize PHP function with a large value for the number of array elements, which triggers the overflow in the Zend Engine ecalloc function (Zend/zend_alloc.c).

The bug was discovered 10/05/2006. The weakness was presented 10/05/2006 with PHP Team (Website). The advisory is shared for download at cvs.php.net. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2006-4812 since 09/15/2006. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be launched remotely. No form of authentication is required for exploitation. Technical details as well as a public exploit are known. The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1059.

The exploit is available at securityfocus.com. It is declared as proof-of-concept. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 22929 (GLSA-200610-14 : PHP: Integer overflow), 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 165120 (SUSE Security Update for PHP4, PHP5 (SUSE-SA:2006:059)).

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability. Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at cvs.php.net. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version. A possible mitigation has been published 1 days after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (29362), Exploit-DB (28760), Tenable (22929), SecurityFocus (BID 20349†) and OSVDB (29510†). See VDB-2429, VDB-2592, VDB-32047 and VDB-32046 for similar entries. Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
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CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.7

VulDB Base Score: 7.5
VulDB Temp Score: 6.7
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
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Exploitinginfo

Class: Code injection
CWE: CWE-94 / CWE-74 / CWE-707
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

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

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Price Prediction: 🔍
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Nessus ID: 22929
Nessus Name: GLSA-200610-14 : PHP: Integer overflow
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍
Nessus Port: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 57457
OpenVAS Name: FreeBSD Ports: php5
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Exploit-DB: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
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Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
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Patch: cvs.php.net

Timelineinfo

09/15/2006 🔍
10/05/2006 +20 days 🔍
10/05/2006 +0 days 🔍
10/05/2006 +0 days 🔍
10/05/2006 +0 days 🔍
10/05/2006 +0 days 🔍
10/05/2006 +0 days 🔍
10/06/2006 +0 days 🔍
10/06/2006 +0 days 🔍
10/10/2006 +4 days 🔍
10/16/2006 +6 days 🔍
10/31/2006 +15 days 🔍
04/23/2026 +7114 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Product: php.org

Advisory: cvs.php.net
Researcher: http://www.php.net
Organization: PHP Team
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2006-4812 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2006-4812
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-2588
X-Force: 29362 - PHP ecalloc() integer overflow, High Risk
SecurityFocus: 20349 - PHP ZendEngine ECalloc Integer Overflow Vulnerability
Secunia: 22650 - Gentoo update for php, Moderately Critical
OSVDB: 29510 - PHP unserialize() Function Array Handling Overflow
SecurityTracker: 1016984
Vulnerability Center: 12899 - PHP Integer Overflow in the Zend Engine ecalloc Function, High
Vupen: ADV-2006-3922

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

Entryinfo

Created: 10/06/2006 16:00
Updated: 04/23/2026 15:26
Changes: 10/06/2006 16:00 (97), 09/05/2019 13:35 (6), 06/08/2025 12:18 (17), 04/23/2026 15:26 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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