CVE-2016-4072: The Phar extension in PHP before 5.5.34, 5.6.x before 5.6.20, and 7.x before 7.0.5 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a…
Noroxi assessment
Priority: Plan (action score 41/100)
- The sources we track (CISA KEV, Exploit-DB, Metasploit, Nuclei, GitHub) show no public exploit code or exploitation in the wild.
- Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 5.9% (FIRST EPSS); higher than 93.3% 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.
- Fixed version: php5 (Debian:7) 5.4.45-0+deb7u3; php5 (Debian:8) 5.6.20+dfsg-0+deb8u1.
Add it to your regular patch cycle. Upgrade to php5 (Debian:7) 5.4.45-0+deb7u3; php5 (Debian:8) 5.6.20+dfsg-0+deb8u1 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 · FIRST EPSS
The Phar extension in PHP before 5.5.34, 5.6.x before 5.6.20, and 7.x before 7.0.5 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted filename, as demonstrated by mishandling of \0 characters by the phar_analyze_path function in ext/phar/phar.c.
- Published
- May 20, 2016
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 5.9% · 93th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-20
Report tools
Action score
41
Add it to your regular patch cycle.
- CVSS
- 39 / 40 · 9.8 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 2 / 30 · 5.9%
Get told when this record changes
- Not in KEV: no record of exploitation in the wild
- No public exploit code on record
- 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.
Using php? Add it to your stack and be the first to know about CVEs like this one. (PHP)
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- php php5.5.0
- php php5.5.1
- php php5.5.10
- php php5.5.11
- php php5.5.12
- php php5.5.13
- php php5.5.14
- php php5.5.15
+12 more rows
- php php5.5.16
- php php5.5.17
- php php5.5.18
- php php5.5.19
- php php5.5.2
- php php5.5.20
- php php5.5.21
- php php5.5.22
- php php5.5.23
- php php5.5.24
- php php5.5.25
- php php5.5.26
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:7 | php5 | before 5.4.45-0+deb7u3 | 5.4.45-0+deb7u3 |
| Debian:8 | php5 | before 5.6.20+dfsg-0+deb8u1 | 5.6.20+dfsg-0+deb8u1 |
Same product
php: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2024-4577Argument Injection in PHP-CGIKEV99Now
- CVE-2019-11043Underflow in PHP-FPM can lead to RCEKEV99Now
- CVE-2012-1823sapi/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…KEV99Now
Published before and after this one in the same product
- ← EarlierCVE-2016-4070May 20, 2016 · Integer overflow in the php_raw_url_encode function in ext/standard/url.c in PHP before 5.5.34, 5.6.x before 5.6.20, and 7.x before 7.0.5…32Monitor
- ← EarlierCVE-2016-4071May 20, 2016 · Format string vulnerability in the php_snmp_error function in ext/snmp/snmp.c in PHP before 5.5.34, 5.6.x before 5.6.20, and 7.x before 7.0.45Plan
- Later →CVE-2016-4073May 20, 2016 · Multiple integer overflows in the mbfl_strcut function in ext/mbstring/libmbfl/mbfl/mbfilter.c in PHP before 5.5.34, 5.6.x before 5.6.20…41Plan
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:php5 | 5.4.45-0+deb7u3 · Debian:7 | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
No known public exploit
No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.
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.
No dated events beyond publication.
Not on record for this CVE: EPSS history · patch commit or PR link · 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-20 · Improper Input ValidationCVSS vector
CVSS:3.0/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)
- Buffer Overflow via Environment VariablesCAPEC-10likelihood: High · High
- Server Side Include (SSI) InjectionCAPEC-101likelihood: High · High
- Cross Zone ScriptingCAPEC-104likelihood: Medium · High
- Command Line Execution through SQL InjectionCAPEC-108likelihood: Low · Very High
- Object Relational Mapping InjectionCAPEC-109likelihood: Low · High
- SQL Injection through SOAP Parameter TamperingCAPEC-110likelihood: High · Very High
- Double EncodingCAPEC-120likelihood: Low · Medium
- Subverting Environment Variable ValuesCAPEC-13likelihood: High · Very High
ATT&CK techniques
- Obfuscated Files or InformationT1027
- Masquerading: Invalid Code SignatureT1036.001
- Steal Web Session CookieT1539
- Subvert Trust Controls: Code SigningT1553.002
- Impair Defenses:Impair Command History LoggingT1562.003
- Hijack Execution Flow:Dynamic Linker HijackingT1574.006
- Hijack Execution Flow:Path Interception by PATH Environment VariableT1574.007
Change log (1)
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
Show all references (16 more)Show less
- rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2750.html
- www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3560
- www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/04/24/1
- www.php.net/ChangeLog-5.php
- www.php.net/ChangeLog-7.php
- www.securityfocus.com/bid/85993
- www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2952-1
- www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2952-2
- bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=71860
- gist.github.com/smalyshev/80b5c2909832872f2ba2
- git.php.net/?p=php-src.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=1e9b175204e3286d64dfd6c9f09151c31b5e099a
- h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05240731
- h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05320149
- h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05390722
- security.gentoo.org/glsa/201611-22
- support.apple.com/HT206567
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.