Description
The PDORow implementation in PHP before 5.3.9 does not properly interact with the session feature, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted application that uses a PDO driver for a fetch and then calls the session_start function, as demonstrated by a crash of the Apache HTTP Server.
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 |
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 PDORow Object - Remote Denial of Service EDB-36682 · dos · Sep 24, 2011 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 1
- DSA-2408-1 php5 - several Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- SUSE-SU-2012:0411 vendor-advisory
- https://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=55776
- openSUSE-SU-2012:0426 vendor-advisory
- 48668 third-party-advisory
- http://www.php.net/ChangeLog-5.php#5.3.9
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=783605