Description
PHP before 5.2.12 and 5.3.x before 5.3.1 does not restrict the number of temporary files created when handling a multipart/form-data POST request, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (resource exhaustion), and makes it easier for remote attackers to exploit local file inclusion vulnerabilities, via multiple requests, related to lack of support for the max_file_uploads directive.
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+lenny4 | DSA-1940-1 |
| Debian 4.0 | php5 | 5.2.0+dfsg-8+etch16 | DSA-1940-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 5 | php +18 | 5.1.6-24.el5_4.5 | RHSA-2010:0040 |
| RHEL 4 | php +13 | 4.3.9-3.29 | RHSA-2010:0040 |
| RHEL 3 | php +6 | 4.3.2-54.ent | RHSA-2010:0040 |
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 < 5.3.1 - 'MultiPart/form-data' Denial of Service EDB-10242 · dos · Nov 27, 2009 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 2
- RHSA-2010:0040 Red Hat Security Advisory: php security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-1940-1 php5 - multiple issues Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:6667 vdb-entry signature
- http://www.php.net/releases/5_2_12.php
- 37482 third-party-advisory
- 40262 third-party-advisory
- [php-announce] 20091119 5.3.1 Release announcement mailing-list
- HPSBUX02543 vendor-advisory
- MDVSA-2009:305 vendor-advisory
- 37821 third-party-advisory
- APPLE-SA-2010-03-29-1 vendor-advisory
- 20091120 PHP "multipart/form-data" denial of service mailing-list
- 41490 third-party-advisory
- HPSBMA02568 vendor-advisory
- http://www.acunetix.com/blog/websecuritynews/php-multipartform-data-denial-of-service/
- DSA-1940 vendor-advisory
- http://www.php.net/ChangeLog-5.php
- [oss-security] 20091120 Re: CVE request: php 5.3.1 update mailing-list
- http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4077
- [oss-security] 20091120 CVE request: php 5.3.1 update mailing-list
- http://www.php.net/releases/5_3_1.php
- ADV-2009-3593 vdb-entry
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:10483 vdb-entry signature
- 41480 third-party-advisory
- 20091120 PHP "multipart/form-data" denial of service mailing-list
- MDVSA-2009:303 vendor-advisory
- php-multipart-formdata-dos(54455) vdb-entry