CVE-2017-9841: Util/PHP/eval-stdin.php in PHPUnit before 4.8.28 and 5.x before 5.6.3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via HTTP POST…
Noroxi assessment
Priority: Now (action score 99/100)
- CISA has confirmed exploitation in the wild (Feb 15, 2022). Remediation deadline for US federal agencies: Aug 15, 2022.
- A ready-made attack module is public (Nuclei); exploiting it takes no special expertise.
- Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 99.9% (FIRST EPSS); higher than 99.9% of all records.
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it. No account or password is required. No user action is required. No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
- According to CISA the attack is automatable: targets can be found by mass scanning.
- Fixed version: phpunit (Debian:12) 5.4.6-2; phpunit/phpunit (Packagist) 4.8.28, 5.6.3.
Patch today or shut off access. Upgrade to phpunit (Debian:12) 5.4.6-2; phpunit/phpunit (Packagist) 4.8.28, 5.6.3 or later.
Generated automatically from the record's data: CVSS (NVD and CNA), CISA KEV and SSVC, FIRST EPSS, exploit sources, fixed versions. How we calculate it
Primary sources: NVD · CVE.org · CISA KEV · FIRST EPSS
Util/PHP/eval-stdin.php in PHPUnit before 4.8.28 and 5.x before 5.6.3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via HTTP POST data beginning with a "<?php " substring, as demonstrated by an attack on a site with an exposed /vendor folder, i.e., external access to the /vendor/phpunit/phpunit/src/Util/PHP/eval-stdin.php URI.
- Published
- Jun 27, 2017
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 99.9% · 99th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-94
Report tools
Action score
99
Patch today or shut off access.
- CVSS
- 39 / 40 · 9.8 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 30 / 30 · Listed
- EPSS
- 30 / 30 · 99.9%
CISA SSVC decision
- Exploitation
- active
- Automatable
- yes
- Technical impact
- total
Vulnrichment: CISA's decision-tree inputs.
Actively exploited in the wild
CISA added this to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Feb 15, 2022. That signals real attacks, not theory.
Remediation deadline for US federal agencies: Aug 15, 2022.
Get told when this record changes
- In CISA KEV: exploitation in the wild confirmed
- Weaponized exploit exists
- A fix has been released
If any of these changes, we'll tell you in the daily email digest.
Is your version affected? Check itNoroxi analysis
What does it mean in your environment?
The assessment above is generated automatically from the record's data; it doesn't know your environment. Our team verifies on your systems whether this vulnerability is actually exploitable and which mitigation is enough.
We use this product, ask for helpAffected systems
Is your version affected?
Pick the product and type the version you run. It's compared with this record's version ranges in your browser; the version isn't sent anywhere.
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| phpunit project | phpunit | cpe:2.3:a:phpunit_project:phpunit |
| oracle | communications diameter signaling router | cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_diameter_signaling_router |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- oracle communications diameter signaling router8.0.0 and later · up to 8.5.0 inclusive
- phpunit project phpunitup to 4.8.27 inclusive
- phpunit project phpunit5.0.0 and later · before 5.6.3
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:12 | phpunit | before 5.4.6-2 | 5.4.6-2 |
| Packagist | phpunit/phpunit | from 4.8.19 · before 4.8.28 | 4.8.28 |
| Packagist | phpunit/phpunit | from 5.0.10 · before 5.6.3 | 5.6.3 |
Same product
phpunit project: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2026-41570PHPUnit: Argument injection via newline in PHP INI values forwarded to child processes31Monitor
- CVE-2026-24765PHPUnit Vulnerable to Unsafe Deserialization in PHPT Code Coverage Handling31Monitor
- CVE-2013-4744Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the PHPUnit extension before 3.5.15 for TYPO3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web…17Monitor
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| debian:phpunit | 5.4.6-2 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| Packagist:phpunit/phpunit | 4.8.28 | Package registry (OSV) |
| Packagist:phpunit/phpunit | 5.6.3 | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
Weaponized
A ready exploit tool or active in-the-wild use is known for this vulnerability. This should be your top priority.
Evidence
- Exploit-DB entry ×1
- Nuclei detection template ×1
- Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub ×18
Noroxi does not host or link to exploit code. Metasploit module names and Nuclei template ids are shown (names, not code); Exploit-DB entries and PoC repositories are given as counts only.
| Source | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | 18 repositories | 2020-01-06 → 2026-10-08 |
| Exploit-DB entry | webapps | 2022-02-02 |
| Nuclei detection template | Nuclei template CVE-2017-9841 | — |
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
- Published
- First PoC+922 d
- CISA KEV+1693 d
- TodayNov 15, 2026+3428 d
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
Not on record for this CVE: EPSS history · researcher credit · variant or chain candidate · public bounty program.
Technical details
Attack conditions
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it.
- No account or password is required.
- No user action is required.
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- high · data can be read
- Integrity
- high · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- high · the service can be disrupted
- Attack vector
- Network
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality impact
- High
- Integrity impact
- High
- Availability impact
- High
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-94 · Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
Attack patterns (CAPEC)
Change log (1)
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
Show all references (7 more)Show less
- www.securityfocus.com/bid/101798
- www.securitytracker.com/id/1039812
- github.com/sebastianbergmann/phpunit/commit/284a69fb88a2d0845d23f42974a583d8f59bf5a5
- github.com/sebastianbergmann/phpunit/pull/1956
- security.gentoo.org/glsa/201711-15
- www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2021.html
- www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2017-9841
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.