| Aspect | Summary | |--------|---------| | | Unauthenticated RCE via eval-stdin.php (CVE-2017-9841) | | Affected Versions | PHPUnit <4.8.28 and <5.6.3 | | CVSS Score | 9.8 (Critical) | | Attack Vector | HTTP POST to /vendor/phpunit/.../eval-stdin.php | | Impact | Full server compromise, data breach, malware deployment | | Active Threats | Androxgh0st malware, mass scanning campaigns | | Remediation | Upgrade to ≥4.8.28/5.6.3, remove PHPUnit from production, restrict access to /vendor |
Based on this report, we recommend:
PHPUnit is a popular testing framework for PHP. To run tests in separate processes, PHPUnit utilizes a helper script located at vendor/phpunit/phpunit/src/Util/PHP/eval-stdin.php . The Vulnerable Code
A: No. This is an unauthenticated RCE vulnerability. An attacker does not need a username, password, or any prior access to the target website. vendor phpunit phpunit src util php eval-stdin.php exploit
Versions 4.8.28, 5.6.3, and all later (including 6.x and beyond) are patched and safe.
The vulnerability is related to the eval-stdin.php file, which is a utility script used by PHPUnit to evaluate PHP code from standard input. The issue arises from the fact that the script uses the eval() function to execute user-supplied input without proper validation or sanitization. This allows an attacker to inject malicious PHP code, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution.
The vulnerability stems from the eval-stdin.php script, which was intended to facilitate unit testing by processing code through standard input. In vulnerable versions, the script uses eval() to execute the contents of php://input —which, in a web context, reads the raw body of an HTTP POST request. | Aspect | Summary | |--------|---------| | |
One of the most notable examples of this is , a severe Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerability found in PHPUnit, the standard testing framework for PHP.
PHPUnit is a programmer-oriented testing framework for PHP. It is an instance of the xUnit architecture for unit testing frameworks.
The server has just executed the id command. The attacker now has Remote Code Execution (RCE). This is an unauthenticated RCE vulnerability
Do you have any specific questions regarding this vulnerability or PHPUnit in general?
The malware's use of this vulnerability demonstrates its continued relevance and danger in modern threat landscapes.
If you are currently reviewing log files or dealing with a potential security issue, let me know (Apache or Nginx) or if you need help configuring your framework's web root safely. Share public link
The eval-stdin.php script reads from the body. The eval() function executes system("ls -la") .
This file was designed for a simple, helpful purpose: to allow the framework to run PHP code sent through "standard input". In a safe development environment, this is just a tool. But when that developer pushes their code to production—accidentally including the entire