Quantum Secular Labs / Blog / Advisories

CVE-2026-46420: Shivammathur Setup PHP: Command injection

CVE-2026-46420 is rated critical with a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 and affects Shivammathur Setup PHP. 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

setup-php is a GitHub action to set up PHP with extensions, php.ini configuration, coverage drivers, and tools. From 2.25.0 prior to 2.37.1, shivammathur/setup-php resolves the PHP version from repository-controlled files such as .php-version, composer.lock through platform-overrides.php, and composer.json through config.platform.php, and insufficiently constrains those values before incorporating them into generated shell or PowerShell setup scripts, allowing command injection on a GitHub Actions runner when workflows such as pull_request_target check out attacker-controlled contents before invoking setup-php. This issue is fixed in version 2.37.1.

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-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command

The product constructs all or part of an OS command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended OS command before it is sent to a downstream component.

Affected products

  • Shivammathur Setup PHP: from 2.25.0 before 2.37.1

References