Description
Heap-based buffer overflow in ext/mbstring/libmbfl/filters/mbfilter_htmlent.c in the mbstring extension in PHP 4.3.0 through 5.2.6 allows context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted string containing an HTML entity, which is not properly handled during Unicode conversion, related to the (1) mb_convert_encoding, (2) mb_check_encoding, (3) mb_convert_variables, and (4) mb_parse_str functions.
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 | 5.2.6.dfsg.1-1+lenny2 | DTSA-188-1, DSA-1789-1 |
| Debian 4.0 | php5 | 5.2.0+dfsg-8+etch15 | DSA-1789-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 5 | php +18 | 5.1.6-23.2.el5_3 | RHSA-2009:0338 |
| RHEL 4 | php +13 | 4.3.9-3.22.15 | RHSA-2009:0337 |
| RHEL 3 | php +6 | 4.3.2-51.ent | RHSA-2009:0337 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Rhel Application Stack 2 | php +18 | 5.2.6-4.el5s2 | RHSA-2009:0350 |
Advisories 5
- RHSA-2009:0338 Red Hat Security Advisory: php security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- RHSA-2009:0337 Red Hat Security Advisory: php security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-1789-1 php5 - several vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DTSA-188-1 php5 - several vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- RHSA-2009:0350 Red Hat Security Advisory: php security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Nov 22, 2025
References
- HPSBUX02465 vendor-advisory
- http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3549
- SSRT090085 vendor-advisory
- http://cvs.php.net/viewvc.cgi/php-src/ext/mbstring/libmbfl/filters/mbfilter_htmlent.c?r1=1.7&r2=1.8
- FEDORA-2009-3768 vendor-advisory
- 20090302 rPSA-2009-0035-1 php php-cgi php-imap php-mcrypt php-mysql php-mysqli php-pgsql php-soap php-xsl php5 php5-cgi php5-imap php5-mcrypt php5-mysql php5-mysqli php5-pear php5-pgsql php5-soap php5-xsl mailing-list
- 20081221 CVE-2008-5557 - PHP mbstring buffer overflow mailing-list
- http://wiki.rpath.com/Advisories:rPSA-2009-0035
- 34642 third-party-advisory
- 1021482 vdb-entry
- 35074 third-party-advisory
- HPSBMA02492 vendor-advisory
- APPLE-SA-2009-05-12 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SR:2009:004 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SR:2009:008 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2009:0350 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2009-3848 vendor-advisory
- 35003 third-party-advisory
- http://www.php.net/ChangeLog-5.php#5.2.7
- TA09-133A third-party-advisory
- php-multibyte-bo(47525) vdb-entry
- MDVSA-2009:045 vendor-advisory
- ADV-2009-1297 vdb-entry
- http://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=45722
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:10286 vdb-entry signature
- 35306 third-party-advisory
- 35650 third-party-advisory
- 32948 vdb-entry
- DSA-1789 vendor-advisory