CVE-2012-1172

CVE-2012-1172 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Php with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 5.8. 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-20.

Key facts

• Severity: Medium (CVSS 2.0 base score 5.8)
• EPSS exploit prediction: 6% (93rd percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-20
• Affected product: Php
• Published: 2012-05-24
• Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

The file-upload implementation in rfc1867.c in PHP before 5.4.0 does not properly handle invalid [ (open square bracket) characters in name values, which makes it easier for remote attackers to cause a denial of service (malformed $_FILES indexes) or conduct directory traversal attacks during multi-file uploads by leveraging a script that lacks its own filename restrictions.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2012-1172?

The file-upload implementation in rfc1867.c in PHP before 5.4.0 does not properly handle invalid [ (open square bracket) characters in name values, which makes it easier for remote attackers to cause a denial of service (malformed $_FILES indexes) or conduct directory traversal attacks during multi-file uploads by leveraging a script that lacks its own filename restrictions.

How severe is CVE-2012-1172?

CVE-2012-1172 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 5.8, rated medium severity.

Is CVE-2012-1172 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 6% (93rd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2012-1172?

CVE-2012-1172 primarily affects Php. In total, 49 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2012-1172?

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

When was CVE-2012-1172 published?

CVE-2012-1172 was published on 2012-05-24 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

• http://isisblogs.poly.edu/2011/08/11/php-not-properly-checking-params/
• http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2012/Sep/msg00004.html
• http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2012-May/080037.html
• http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2012-May/080041.html
• http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2012-May/080070.html
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2012-05/msg00007.html
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2012-05/msg00011.html
• http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=134012830914727&w=2
• http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2012/03/13/4
• http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5501
• http://svn.php.net/viewvc/php/php-src/branches/PHP_5_4/main/rfc1867.c?r1=321664&r2=321663&pathrev=321664
• http://svn.php.net/viewvc?view=revision&revision=321664
• http://www.debian.org/security/2012/dsa-2465
• http://www.php.net/ChangeLog-5.php#5.4.0
• https://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=48597
• https://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=49683
• https://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=54374
• https://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=55500
• https://nealpoole.com/blog/2011/10/directory-traversal-via-php-multi-file-uploads/
• https://students.mimuw.edu.pl/~ai292615/php_multipleupload_overwrite.pdf

Affected products (49)

• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.0.0:beta1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.0.0:beta2:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.0.0:beta3:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.0.0:beta4:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.0.0:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.0.0:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.0.0:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.0.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.0.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.1.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.1.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.1.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.1.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.2.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.2.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.2.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.2.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.2.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.2.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.2.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.2.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.2.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.2.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.2.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.2.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.2.13:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.2.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.2.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.2.16:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.2.17:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Php

• CVE-2015-0235 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Heap-based buffer overflow in the __nss_hostname_digits_dots function in glibc 2.2, and other 2.x versions before 2.18,…
• CVE-2012-2688 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Unspecified vulnerability in the _php_stream_scandir function in the stream implementation in PHP before 5.3.15 and…
• CVE-2012-2376 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Buffer overflow in the com_print_typeinfo function in PHP 5.4.3 and earlier on Windows allows remote attackers to…
• CVE-2011-3268 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Buffer overflow in the crypt function in PHP before 5.3.7 allows context-dependent attackers to have an unspecified…
• CVE-2009-4143 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): PHP before 5.2.12 does not properly handle session data, which has unspecified impact and attack vectors related to (1)…
• CVE-2008-5557 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Heap-based buffer overflow in ext/mbstring/libmbfl/filters/mbfilter_htmlent.c in the mbstring extension in PHP 4.3.0…

All CVEs affecting Php →

Other CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation) vulnerabilities

• CVE-2026-48316 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): ColdFusion versions 2025.9, 2023.20 and earlier are affected by an Improper Input Validation vulnerability that could…
• CVE-2026-48281 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): ColdFusion versions 2025.9, 2023.20 and earlier are affected by an Improper Input Validation vulnerability that could…
• CVE-2026-48277 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): ColdFusion versions 2025.9, 2023.20 and earlier are affected by an Improper Input Validation vulnerability that could…
• CVE-2026-48055 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Streambert is a cross-platform Electron Desktop App to stream and download any video media. In versions 2.4.0 and…
• CVE-2026-34910 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): A malicious actor with access to the network could exploit an Improper Input Validation vulnerability found in UniFi OS…
• CVE-2026-33587 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Lack of user input sanitisation in Open Notebook v1.8.3 allows the application user to execute Python code (and…

Browse all CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation) vulnerabilities →

Threat intelligence

Threat-intel indicators referencing this CVE:

• 221.161.235.168 (ipv4-addr)
• 187.141.71.166 (ipv4-addr)
• 103.20.122.54 (ipv4-addr)
• 82.199.197.245 (ipv4-addr)
• 58.221.244.34 (ipv4-addr)
• 222.99.52.202 (ipv4-addr)
• 220.88.220.59 (ipv4-addr)
• 211.253.10.61 (ipv4-addr)