The sapi_header_op function in main/SAPI.c in PHP 5.4.0RC2 through 5.4.0 does not…
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- — Not recorded in CVSS 2.0
- Attack complexity
- Medium
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · Partial · None
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 2.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
The sapi_header_op function in main/SAPI.c in PHP 5.4.0RC2 through 5.4.0 does not properly determine a pointer during checks for %0D sequences (aka carriage return characters), which allows remote attackers to bypass an HTTP response-splitting protection mechanism via a crafted URL, related to improper interaction between the PHP header function and certain browsers, as demonstrated by Internet Explorer and Google Chrome. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incorrect fix for CVE-2011-1398.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 8
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:php:php:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.3.0 to before 5.3.11 | Vulnerable | PHP |
| cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.4.0:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.4.0 rc2 | Vulnerable | PHP |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:8.04:*:*:*:-:*:*:* | 8.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:10.04:*:*:*:-:*:*:* | 10.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:11.04:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 11.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:11.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 11.10 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:12.04:*:*:*:-:*:*:* | 12.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
- cpe:2.3:a:php:php:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.3.0 to before 5.3.11 Vulnerable ·PHP
- cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.4.0:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.4.0 rc2 Vulnerable ·PHP
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:8.04:*:*:*:-:*:*:* Versions 8.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:10.04:*:*:*:-:*:*:* Versions 10.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:11.04:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:11.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11.10 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:12.04:*:*:*:-:*:*:* Versions 12.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
Not affected: 2 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2012-4388
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-78pr-9xh4-8h52
References
Advisory 8
- http://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2012-4388
- [oss-security] 20120905 Re: php header() header injection detection bypass
- [oss-security] 20120906 Re: Re: php header() header injection detection bypass
- https://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=60227
- [oss-security] 20120829 php header() header injection detection bypass
- [oss-security] 20120901 Re: php header() header injection detection bypass
- SUSE-SU-2013:1315
- USN-1569-1
Sources
- CVE-2012-4388 · CVE Program
- CVE-2012-4388 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-78pr-9xh4-8h52 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2012-4388 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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