Assessment
Why it matters
EPSS is 0.5%; technical severity is CVSS 6.3.
In PHP versions 8.4.* before 8.4.21 and 8.5.* before 8.5.6, when an encoding name containing an embedded NUL byte is passed to mb_convert_encoding() or related mbstring functions, the code incorrectly assumes that when strncasecmp() returns 0 it means the strings have the same length. This can lead to out-of-bounds read of global memory, potentially causing a crash or information disclosure or crash. Affected functions include mb_convert_encoding(), mb_detect_encoding(), mb_convert_variables(), and mb_detect_order(), as well as the mbstring.detect_order and mbstring.http_output INI settings.
Who should care
- Teams operating PHP
- Vulnerability and exposure management teams
- Security operations teams monitoring exploitation activity
Response plan
What I would do
- Confirm whether PHP is present in the environment.
- Identify affected versions and establish whether vulnerable services are exposed or reachable.
- Red Hat Security advisory RHSA-2026:22649
- Review relevant security telemetry for evidence of attempted or successful exploitation.
- Document the remediation decision and track it to verified completion.
Treatment intelligence
Remediation intelligence
Vendor sources are listed before government and third-party guidance. Confirm product applicability and change prerequisites before deployment.
Technical details
- CVSS vector
- CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:L/VI:N/VA:L/SC:L/SI:N/SA:L/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:M/U:Amber
- CWE
- CWE-125
- Affected versions
- PHP PHP (Start Including 8.4.0, End Excluding 8.4.21 | Start Including 8.5.0, End Excluding 8.5.6)
- Fixed versions
- PHP PHP (Fixed from 8.4.21, 8.5.6)
- Published
- 10 May 2026
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
Signal timeline
- CVE published
- Latest EPSS score: 0.5%
- Signal calculated at 11