Quantum Secular Labs / Blog / Advisories

CVE-2016-7398: PHP Ext HTTP: Memory corruption

CVE-2016-7398 is rated critical with a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 and NVD lists PHP Ext HTTP as the affected product. Per its scoring, it can be exploited over the network, without authentication, without any user interaction. The scored impact on confidentiality, integrity and availability is the highest available.

Vulnerability description

A type confusion vulnerability in the merge_param() function of php_http_params.c in PHP's pecl-http extension 3.1.0beta2 (PHP 7) and earlier as well as 2.6.0beta2 (PHP 5) and earlier allows attackers to crash PHP and possibly execute arbitrary code via crafted HTTP requests.

Severity breakdown

CVSS v3.1 9.8: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

  • Attack vector: Network. Exploitable remotely over the network, with no need for local or physical access.
  • Attack complexity: Low. No special conditions; the attack can be repeated reliably.
  • Privileges required: None. No account or prior access is needed.
  • User interaction: None. No action from any user is needed.
  • Scope: Unchanged. Impact stays within the vulnerable component.
  • Confidentiality impact: High. Total loss of confidentiality; sensitive data can be fully disclosed.
  • Integrity impact: High. Total loss of integrity; data or system state can be fully modified.
  • Availability impact: High. Total loss of availability; the component can be shut down.

Underlying weakness

CWE-704: Incorrect Type Conversion or Cast

The product does not correctly convert an object, resource, or structure from one type to a different type.

Affected products

  • PHP Ext HTTP: up to and including 2.5.6; from 3.0.0 up to and including 3.0.1; 2.6.0; 2.6.0 beta1; 2.6.0 beta2; 2.6.0 rc1; 3.1.0; 3.1.0 beta1; 3.1.0 beta2; 3.1.0 rc1

References