CVE-2026-109618: PHP · Use After Free
Affects PHPSource CVE Database V5
Exploited in the wild · public exploit available (Exploit-DB) · 99% EPSS · fixed in 8.5.12 : patch PHP now.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 09:08 UTC
- EPSS
- 99.9% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 99% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- CISA SSVC
- Exploitation
- No evidence of active exploitation and no public proof of concept
- Automatable
- Attackers cannot reliably automate steps 1–4 of the kill chain
- Technical impact
- Total control over the software or total information disclosure
CISA SSVC assessment, 2026-10-21.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 8.5.12, 8.4.27, 8.3.36 +1
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:NExploitation evidence
t = 0 is the CVE’s publication on cve.org
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 21 Oct 2026
Detectable: evidence found.
nuclei template: PHP2Shell (CVE-2026-109618/CVE-2026-109619) - Active Crash Detection
Weaponised: evidence found.
Exploited in the wildExploited: evidence found.
Reported exploited by CVE Database V5
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: evidence found.
81 honeypot hits, first 43 hours after disclosure
Timeline
CVE ID reserved
by PHP Group
, 9 days before disclosure
CVE published
on cve.org
, t = 0
First Exploit-DB entry (opens in a new tab)
PHP2Shell (CVE-2026-109618) - PHP core versions after v5.4 - RCE
, 1 day after disclosure
First seen by OffSeq Mirage
from 8 attacker networks; activity in Netherlands, Portugal, Poland, Canada and 8 more
, 43 hours after disclosure
Last seen by OffSeq Mirage (opens in a new tab)
25 Oct 2026, 17:21 UTC
, 4 days after disclosure
In Threat Radar
record ingested
, 5 days after disclosure
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), CVE Database V5, OffSeq Mirage (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade PHP to 8.5.12, 8.4.27, 8.3.36 or 8.2.35.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| PHPphp-src | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Description
PHP uses longjmp() for out-of-memory (OOM) errors to exit the current context and abort handling of the request. Some contexts may not properly account for this scenario and leave request memory in an uninitialized state before performing an allocation. The subsequent request cleanup procedure may read or branch on this memory. Multiple OOM strategies can consistently trigger this condition and lead to remote code execution (RCE).
Reports on CVE-2026-109618
- Threat Brief: Critical Vulnerabilities in PHP: CVE-2026-109618, CVE-2026-109619 (Updated October 23)Palo Alto Unit 42
- Hunting Leaked PHP2Shell RCE Across Open Directories (CVE-2026-109618, CVE-2026-109619)AlienVault OTX General
- PHP2Shell (CVE-2026-109618) - PHP core versions after v5.4 - RCEExploit-DB RSS Feed
- PHP2Shell Vulnerabilities: CVE-2026-109618 and CVE-2026-109619AlienVault OTX General
- Two critical RCEs in PHP coreCisco Talos
- Critical security issue affecting PHPNCSC UK
- PHP2Shell: Mass Exploitation Looms for Leaked Critical PHP FlawsSecurityWeek
References
- github.com/php/php-src/security/advisories/GHSA-w8hw-w9fx-j79w (opens in a new tab)
- wiz.io/blog/php2shell-php-rce (opens in a new tab)
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/10/21/6 (opens in a new tab)
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/10/23/5 (opens in a new tab)
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-566512.html (opens in a new tab)