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CVE-2012-1823

PHP-CGI Query String Parameter Vulnerability

  • Critical 9.8
  • Exploited: added to CISA KEV 25 Mar 2022

Description

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.

Key facts

Published
11 May 2012
Last changed
4 Nov 2025
Assigned by
certcc
KEV added
25 Mar 2022
KEV fix due
15 Apr 2022
EPSS
99.998% likely to be exploited in the next 30 days, higher than 99.99% of CVEs (scores for 15 Nov 2026)
SSVC (CISA)
Exploitation: active; Automatable: yes; Technical impact: total

Severity scores

Each score is shown as its source gave it. They are not averaged or merged.

  • 9.8CVSS 3.1, Criticalfrom CISA (ADP container)CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

What to do

  • Apply updates per vendor instructions.CISA KEV required action

Historical context and remediation

This reference retains the original CVE publication date. A recent record update does not mean a new attack occurred.

No separately sourced impact summary is available on this page yet. Consult the description, version data and dated exploitation evidence.

Version statuses below come from the CNA. An “unaffected” version is not necessarily a currently supported release or proof of a patch date. EPSS is a dated risk estimate, not a count of historical attacks.

Read the original CVE record.

Affected products

VendorProductVersions
n/an/a
  • n/a (affected)

Timeline

  1. 11 May 2012 Published
  2. 25 Mar 2022 CVE-2012-1823 added to CISA KEV
  3. 25 Mar 2022 Added to the CISA KEV catalogue

Weakness

References