Description
PHP 4 before 4.4.5, and PHP 5 before 5.2.1, when register_globals is enabled, allows context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code via deserialization of session data, which overwrites arbitrary global variables, as demonstrated by calling session_decode on a string beginning with "_SESSION|s:39:".
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 5 | php +18 | 5.1.6-7.el5 | RHSA-2007:0082 |
| RHEL 4 | php +13 | 4.3.9-3.22.3 | RHSA-2007:0076 |
| RHEL 3 | php +6 | 4.3.2-39.ent | RHSA-2007:0076 |
| RHEL 2 | php +7 | 4.1.2-2.14 | RHSA-2007:0081 |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Rhel Stronghold 4 | stronghold-php +8 | 4.1.2-12 | RHSA-2007:0089 |
| Red Hat Rhel Application Stack 1 | php +18 | 5.1.6-3.el4s1.5 | RHSA-2007:0088 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Exploit-DB 1
- PHP < 4.4.5/5.2.1 - '_SESSION' Deserialization Overwrite EDB-3572 · local · Mar 25, 2007 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 5
- RHSA-2007:0089 Red Hat Security Advisory: php security update for Stronghold Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2007:0088 Red Hat Security Advisory: php security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2007:0082 Red Hat Security Advisory: php security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2007:0076 Red Hat Security Advisory: php security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2007:0081 Red Hat Security Advisory: php security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
References
- 23120 vdb-entry
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:11034 vdb-entry signature
- ADV-2007-1991 vdb-entry
- SSRT071423 vendor-advisory
- php-sessiondecode-code-execution(33658) vdb-entry
- GLSA-200705-19 vendor-advisory
- HPSBTU02232 vendor-advisory
- ADV-2007-2374 vdb-entry
- 25423 third-party-advisory
- 25850 third-party-advisory
- 25445 third-party-advisory
- http://www.php-security.org/MOPB/MOPB-31-2007.html