CVE-2012-2336
sapi/cgi/cgi_main.c in PHP before 5.3.13 and 5.4.x before 5.4.3, when configured as a CGI script (aka php-cgi), does not properly handle query strings that lack an = (equals sign) character, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service…
Does this matter?
EPSS puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 52.1%, higher than 99% of all known CVEs. Patch or mitigate before the next change window.
Description
sapi/cgi/cgi_main.c in PHP before 5.3.13 and 5.4.x before 5.4.3, when configured as a CGI script (aka php-cgi), does not properly handle query strings that lack an = (equals sign) character, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (resource consumption) by placing command-line options in the query string, related to lack of skipping a certain php_getopt for the 'T' case. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2012-1823.
- CVSS 2.0
- 5.0 MEDIUMAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P
- EPSS
- 52.09% probability · 99th percentile
- Public exploits
- 4 in Exploit-DB · verified · first 4 May 2012
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-20
- Affected
- php/php
- Source
- secalert@redhat.com
EPSS moved from 52.1% on 28 October 2026 to 52.1% on 4 November 2026. The dashed line is the ten per cent mark our analysts treat as “patch before the next change window”.
Public exploits (4)
Entries in Exploit-DB that cite this CVE. Links go to the Exploit-DB page and to the file in the public repository; nothing is hosted here. A verified tick means the Exploit-DB team confirmed the exploit works against the stated version.
| EDB-ID | Title | Type | Published | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EDB-29316source ↗ | Apache + PHP < 5.3.12 / < 5.4.2 - Remote Code Execution + Scannerphp · noptrix | remote | 31 October 2013 | no |
| EDB-29290source ↗ | Apache + PHP < 5.3.12 / < 5.4.2 - cgi-bin Remote Code Executionphp · kingcope | remote | 29 October 2013 | yes |
| EDB-18836source ↗ | PHP < 5.3.12 / < 5.4.2 - CGI Argument Injectionphp · rayh4c | remote | 5 May 2012 | yes |
| EDB-18834source ↗ | PHP 5.3.12/5.4.2 - CGI Argument Injection (Metasploit)php · Metasploit | remote | 4 May 2012 | yes |
References
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2012-06/msg00004.html
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2012-07/msg00003.html
- http://secunia.com/advisories/49014Vendor Advisory
- http://www.php.net/ChangeLog-5.php#5.4.3
- http://www.php.net/archive/2012.php#id2012-05-08-1Vendor Advisory
- https://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=61910Vendor Advisory
- https://bugs.php.net/patch-display.php?bug_id=61910&patch=CVE-2012-1823.patch&revision=1336251592&display=1
- https://h20564.www2.hp.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c03839862
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2012-06/msg00004.html
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2012-07/msg00003.html
- http://secunia.com/advisories/49014Vendor Advisory
- http://www.php.net/ChangeLog-5.php#5.4.3
- http://www.php.net/archive/2012.php#id2012-05-08-1Vendor Advisory
- https://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=61910Vendor Advisory
- https://bugs.php.net/patch-display.php?bug_id=61910&patch=CVE-2012-1823.patch&revision=1336251592&display=1
- https://h20564.www2.hp.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c03839862
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.