Description
The grapheme_extract function in the Internationalization extension (Intl) for ICU for PHP 5.3.5 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via an invalid size argument, which triggers a NULL pointer dereference.
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 6.0 | php5 | 5.3.3-7+squeeze3 | DSA-2266-1 |
| Debian 5.0 | php5 | 5.2.6.dfsg.1-1+lenny12 | DSA-2266-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | php5 | 5.6.28-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10344-1 |
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | php7 | 7.0.14-1.4 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10290-1 |
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | php8 | 8.0.11-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:11169-1 |
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.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Exploit-DB 2
- PHP 5.3.5 - 'grapheme_extract()' Null Pointer Dereference EDB-16182 · dos · Feb 17, 2011 · verified
- PHP 5.3.5 - 'grapheme_extract()' Null Pointer Dereference Denial of Service EDB-35354 · dos · Feb 17, 2011 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 4
- DSA-2266-1 php5 - several Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10290-1 apache2-mod_php7-7.0.14-1.4 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10344-1 apache2-mod_php5-5.6.28-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:11169-1 php8-8.0.11-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- 20110216 PHP 5.3.5 grapheme_extract() NULL Pointer Dereference mailing-list
- DSA-2266 vendor-advisory
- VU#210829 third-party-advisory
- 46429 vdb-entry
- 8087 third-party-advisory
- 16182 exploit
- APPLE-SA-2011-10-12-3 vendor-advisory
- php-graphemeextract-dos(65437) vdb-entry
- 20110217 Re: PHP 5.3.5 grapheme_extract() NULL Pointer Dereference mailing-list
- 20110217 PHP 5.3.5 grapheme_extract() NULL Pointer Dereference third-party-advisory
- http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5002
- http://svn.php.net/viewvc/php/php-src/trunk/ext/intl/grapheme/grapheme_string.c?r1=306449&r2=306448&pathrev=306449