Description
The wordwrap function in PHP 4 before 4.4.8, and PHP 5 before 5.2.4, does not properly use the breakcharlen variable, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (divide-by-zero error and application crash, or infinite loop) via certain arguments, as demonstrated by a 'chr(0), 0, ""' argument set.
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.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 5.0 | php5 | 5.2.3-1+lenny1 | DTSA-61-1 |
| Debian 4.0 | php4 | 6:4.4.4-8+etch6 | DSA-1578-1 |
| Debian 4.0 | php5 | 5.2.0-8+etch9 | DSA-1444-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 5 | php +18 | 5.1.6-15.el5 | RHSA-2007:0890 |
| RHEL 4 | php +13 | 4.3.9-3.22.9 | RHSA-2007:0890 |
| RHEL 3 | php +6 | 4.3.2-43.ent | RHSA-2007:0889 |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Rhel Application Stack 2 | php +18 | 5.2.3-3.el5s2 | RHSA-2007:0917 |
| Red Hat Rhel Application Stack 1 | php +18 | 5.1.6-3.el4s1.8 | RHSA-2007:0891 |
Advisories 7
- RHSA-2007:0889 Red Hat Security Advisory: php security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- RHSA-2007:0890 Red Hat Security Advisory: php security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-1578-1 php4 - several vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-1444-1 php5 several issues Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DTSA-61-1 php5 - several vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- RHSA-2007:0917 Red Hat Security Advisory: php security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jan 14, 2026
- RHSA-2007:0891 Red Hat Security Advisory: php security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jan 14, 2026
References
- 30288 third-party-advisory
- 26822 third-party-advisory
- https://launchpad.net/bugs/173043
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:10603 vdb-entry signature
- SUSE-SA:2008:004 vendor-advisory
- 28658 third-party-advisory
- FEDORA-2007-709 vendor-advisory
- 26967 third-party-advisory
- DSA-1444 vendor-advisory
- GLSA-200710-02 vendor-advisory
- 27864 third-party-advisory
- http://www.php.net/ChangeLog-5.php#5.2.4
- 26930 third-party-advisory
- 2007-0026 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2007:0889 vendor-advisory
- USN-549-1 vendor-advisory
- https://issues.rpath.com/browse/RPL-1693
- 28249 third-party-advisory
- DSA-1578 vendor-advisory
- https://issues.rpath.com/browse/RPL-1702
- 27545 third-party-advisory
- http://support.avaya.com/elmodocs2/security/ASA-2007-449.htm
- 26838 third-party-advisory
- http://secweb.se/en/advisories/php-wordwrap-vulnerability/
- 27377 third-party-advisory
- MDKSA-2007:187 vendor-advisory
- 27102 third-party-advisory
- ADV-2007-3023 vdb-entry
- http://www.php.net/releases/5_2_4.php
- 26895 third-party-advisory
- USN-549-2 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2007:0890 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2007:0891 vendor-advisory
- 26871 third-party-advisory
- 26642 third-party-advisory