USN-1437-1: PHP vulnerability

Publication date

4 May 2012

Overview

Standalone PHP CGI scripts could be made to execute arbitrary code with the privilege of the web server.


Packages

  • php5 - HTML-embedded scripting language interpreter

Details

It was discovered that PHP, when used as a stand alone CGI processor
for the Apache Web Server, did not properly parse and filter query
strings. This could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code
running with the privilege of the web server. Configurations using
mod_php5 and FastCGI were not vulnerable.

This update addresses the issue when the PHP CGI interpreter
is configured using mod_cgi and mod_actions as described in
/usr/share/doc/php5-cgi/README.Debian.gz; however, if an alternate
configuration is used to enable PHP CGI processing, it should be
reviewed to ensure that command line arguments cannot be passed to
the PHP interpreter. Please see CVE-2012-2311 for more details and
potential mitigation approaches.

It was discovered that PHP, when used as a stand alone CGI processor
for the Apache Web Server, did not properly parse and filter query
strings. This could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code
running with the privilege of the web server. Configurations using
mod_php5 and FastCGI were not vulnerable.

This update addresses the issue when the PHP CGI interpreter
is configured using mod_cgi and mod_actions as described in
/usr/share/doc/php5-cgi/README.Debian.gz; however, if an alternate
configuration is used to enable PHP CGI processing, it should be
reviewed to ensure that command line arguments cannot be passed to
the PHP interpreter. Please see CVE-2012-2311 for more details and
potential mitigation approaches.

Update instructions

In general, a standard system update will make all the necessary changes.

Learn more about how to get the fixes.

The problem can be corrected by updating your system to the following package versions:

Ubuntu Release Package Version
8.04 hardy php5-cgi –  5.2.4-2ubuntu5.24
12.04 precise php5-cgi –  5.3.10-1ubuntu3.1
11.10 oneiric php5-cgi –  5.3.6-13ubuntu3.7
11.04 natty php5-cgi –  5.3.5-1ubuntu7.8
10.04 lucid php5-cgi –  5.3.2-1ubuntu4.15

Reduce your security exposure

Ubuntu Pro provides ten-year security coverage to 25,000+ packages in Main and Universe repositories, and it is free for up to five machines.


Have additional questions?

Talk to a member of the team ›