CVE-2016-4072

CVE-2016-4072 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Php with a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8. 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: Critical (CVSS 3.x base score 9.8)
• CVSS v2: 7.5
• EPSS exploit prediction: 6% (92nd percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-20
• Affected product: Php
• Published: 2016-05-20
• Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

The Phar extension in PHP before 5.5.34, 5.6.x before 5.6.20, and 7.x before 7.0.5 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted filename, as demonstrated by mishandling of \0 characters by the phar_analyze_path function in ext/phar/phar.c.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2016-4072?

The Phar extension in PHP before 5.5.34, 5.6.x before 5.6.20, and 7.x before 7.0.5 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted filename, as demonstrated by mishandling of \0 characters by the phar_analyze_path function in ext/phar/phar.c.

How severe is CVE-2016-4072?

CVE-2016-4072 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2016-4072 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 6% (92nd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2016-4072?

CVE-2016-4072 primarily affects Php. In total, 79 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2016-4072?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2016-4072 published?

CVE-2016-4072 was published on 2016-05-20 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

• http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/May/msg00004.html
• http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2750.html
• http://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3560
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/04/24/1
• http://www.php.net/ChangeLog-5.php
• http://www.php.net/ChangeLog-7.php
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/85993
• http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2952-1
• http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2952-2
• https://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=71860
• https://gist.github.com/smalyshev/80b5c2909832872f2ba2
• https://git.php.net/?p=php-src.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=1e9b175204e3286d64dfd6c9f09151c31b5e099a
• https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05240731
• https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05320149
• https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05390722
• https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201611-22
• https://support.apple.com/HT206567

Affected products (79)

• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.6.0:alpha1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.6.0:alpha2:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.6.0:alpha3:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.6.0:alpha4:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.6.0:alpha5:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.6.0:beta1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.6.0:beta2:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.6.0:beta3:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.6.0:beta4:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.6.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.6.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.6.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.6.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.6.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.6.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.6.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.6.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.6.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.6.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.6.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.6.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.6.13:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.6.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.6.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.6.16:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.6.17:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.6.18:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.6.19:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:7.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:7.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:7.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:7.0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:7.0.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.5.0:alpha1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.5.0:alpha2:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.5.0:alpha3:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.5.0:alpha4:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:php:php:5.5.0:alpha5:*:*:*:*:*:*

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Threat intelligence

Threat-intel indicators referencing this CVE:

• 183.182.99.92 (ipv4-addr)
• 103.153.190.105 (ipv4-addr)
• 188.44.20.32 (ipv4-addr)
• 198.199.94.79 (ipv4-addr)
• 122.3.106.113 (ipv4-addr)