Description
An issue was discovered in PHP 5.x and 7.x, when the configuration uses apache2handler/mod_php or php-fpm with OpCache enabled. With 5.x after 5.6.28 or 7.x after 7.0.13, the issue is resolved in a non-default configuration with the opcache.validate_permission=1 setting. The vulnerability details are as follows. In PHP SAPIs where PHP interpreters share a common parent process, Zend OpCache creates a shared memory object owned by the common parent during initialization. Child PHP processes inherit the SHM descriptor, using it to cache and retrieve compiled script bytecode ("opcode" in PHP jargon). Cache keys vary depending on configuration, but filename is a central key component, and compiled opcode can generally be run if a script's filename is known or can be guessed. Many common shared-hosting configurations change EUID in child processes to enforce privilege separation among hosted users (for example using mod_ruid2 for the Apache HTTP Server, or php-fpm user settings). In these scenarios, the default Zend OpCache behavior defeats script file permissions by sharing a single SHM cache among all child PHP processes. PHP scripts often contain sensitive information: Think of CMS configurations where reading or running another user's script usually means gaining privileges to the CMS database.
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.
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | php7.0 | 7.0.22-0ubuntu0.16.04.1 | USN-3382-1 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | php5 | 5.5.9+dfsg-1ubuntu4.22 | USN-3382-1 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP2 | php5 | 5.5.14-99.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0761-1 |
| SLES 12 SP2 | php7 | 7.0.7-38.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0899-1 |
| SLES 12 SP1 | php5 | 5.5.14-99.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0761-1 |
| SLES 12 SP1 | php7 | 7.0.7-38.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0899-1 |
| SLES 12 | php5 | 5.5.14-99.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0761-1 |
| SLES 12 | php7 | 7.0.7-38.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0899-1 |
Advisories 3
- USN-3382-1 php5, php7.0 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2017:0761-1 Security update for php5 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2017:0899-1 Security update for php7 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2017/02/28/1
- http://seclists.org/oss-sec/2017/q1/520
- http://marc.info/?l=php-internals&m=147921016724565&w=2
- https://ma.ttias.be/a-better-way-to-run-php-fpm/
- http://marc.info/?l=php-internals&m=147876797317925&w=2
- http://seclists.org/oss-sec/2016/q4/343
- https://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=69090