CVE-2012-1823

sapi/cgi/cgi_main.c in PHP before 5.3.12 and 5.4.x before 5.4.2, 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 execute arbitrary code by placing command-line options in the query string, related to lack of skipping a certain php_getopt for the 'd' case.

From the Ubuntu Security Team

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.

Read the notes from the security team

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Notes

References

• MITRE
• NVD
• Launchpad
• Debian

Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)

• USN-1437-1
• PHP vulnerability
• 4 May 2012

Other references

• http://eindbazen.net/2012/05/php-cgi-advisory-cve-2012-1823/
• https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2012-1823
• https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog