CVE-2009-3557

CVE-2009-3557 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Php with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 5.0. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-264.

Key facts

• Severity: Medium (CVSS 2.0 base score 5.0)
• EPSS exploit prediction: 2% (79th percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-264
• Affected product: Php
• Published: 2009-11-23
• Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

The tempnam function in ext/standard/file.c in PHP before 5.2.12 and 5.3.x before 5.3.1 allows context-dependent attackers to bypass safe_mode restrictions, and create files in group-writable or world-writable directories, via the dir and prefix arguments.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2009-3557?

The tempnam function in ext/standard/file.c in PHP before 5.2.12 and 5.3.x before 5.3.1 allows context-dependent attackers to bypass safe_mode restrictions, and create files in group-writable or world-writable directories, via the dir and prefix arguments.

How severe is CVE-2009-3557?

CVE-2009-3557 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 5.0, rated medium severity.

Is CVE-2009-3557 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (79th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2009-3557?

CVE-2009-3557 primarily affects Php. In total, 63 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2009-3557?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2009-3557 published?

CVE-2009-3557 was published on 2009-11-23 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

• http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2010//Mar/msg00001.html
• http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=127680701405735&w=2
• http://news.php.net/php.announce/79
• http://secunia.com/advisories/37412
• http://secunia.com/advisories/37821
• http://secunia.com/advisories/40262
• http://securityreason.com/securityalert/6601
• http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4077
• http://svn.php.net/viewvc/php/php-src/branches/PHP_5_2/ext/standard/file.c?view=log
• http://svn.php.net/viewvc/php/php-src/branches/PHP_5_3/ext/standard/file.c?view=log
• http://svn.php.net/viewvc?view=revision&revision=288945
• http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2009:285
• http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2009:302
• http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2009:303
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/11/20/2
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/11/20/3
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/11/20/5
• http://www.php.net/ChangeLog-5.php
• http://www.php.net/releases/5_2_12.php
• http://www.php.net/releases/5_3_1.php
• http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/3593
• https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A7396

Affected products (63)

• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:2.0b10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:3.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:3.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:3.0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:3.0.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:3.0.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:3.0.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:3.0.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:3.0.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:3.0.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:3.0.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:3.0.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:3.0.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:3.0.13:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:3.0.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:3.0.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:3.0.16:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:3.0.17:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:3.0.18:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:4.0:beta_4_patch1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:4.0:beta1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:4.0:beta2:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:4.0:beta3:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:4.0:beta4:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:4.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:4.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:4.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:4.0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:4.0.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:4.0.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:4.0.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:4.0.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:4.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:4.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:4.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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• CVE-2015-7425 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): The Data Protection component in the VMware vSphere GUI in IBM Tivoli Storage Manager for Virtual Environments: Data…
• CVE-2015-8267 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): The PasswordReset.Controllers.ResetController.ChangePasswordIndex method in PasswordReset.dll in Dovestones AD Self…
• CVE-2015-7919 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): SearchBlox 8.3 before 8.3.1 allows remote attackers to write to the config file, and consequently cause a denial of…
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Browse all CWE-264 (Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls) vulnerabilities →

Threat intelligence

Threat-intel indicators referencing this CVE:

• 82.199.197.245 (ipv4-addr)
• 58.221.244.34 (ipv4-addr)
• 222.99.52.202 (ipv4-addr)
• 121.164.135.251 (ipv4-addr)
• 90.160.135.217 (ipv4-addr)
• 76.133.97.153 (ipv4-addr)
• 223.82.97.51 (ipv4-addr)
• 183.6.115.88 (ipv4-addr)