Description
PHP 5.3.8 does not always check the return value of the zend_strndup function, which might allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and application crash) via crafted input to an application that performs strndup operations on untrusted string data, as demonstrated by the define function in zend_builtin_functions.c, and unspecified functions in ext/soap/php_sdl.c, ext/standard/syslog.c, ext/standard/browscap.c, ext/oci8/oci8.c, ext/com_dotnet/com_typeinfo.c, and main/php_open_temporary_file.c.
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+squeeze8 | DSA-2408-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 6 | php +25 | 5.3.3-14.el6_3 | RHSA-2012:1046 |
| RHEL 5 | php +18 | 5.1.6-39.el5_8 | RHSA-2012:1045 |
| RHEL 5 | php53 +20 | 5.3.3-13.el5_8 | RHSA-2012:1047 |
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.
Exploit-DB 1
- PHP 5.3.8 - Multiple Vulnerabilities EDB-18370 · dos · Jan 14, 2012
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 7
- RHSA-2012:1046 Red Hat Security Advisory: php security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- RHSA-2012:1047 Red Hat Security Advisory: php53 security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- RHSA-2012:1045 Red Hat Security Advisory: php security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- DSA-2408-1 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
- SSRT100856 vendor-advisory
- HPSBMU02786 vendor-advisory
- 18370 exploit
- 20120114 PHP 5.3.8 Multiple vulnerabilities mailing-list
- SUSE-SU-2012:0411 vendor-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2012:0426 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SU-2012:0472 vendor-advisory
- 48668 third-party-advisory
- http://cxsecurity.com/research/103