php2shell: Assessing Elastic detection coverage relevant to CVE-2026-109618 and CVE-2026-109619
CVE-2026-109618 and CVE-2026-109619 are critical PHP core RCE flaws that leaked ahead of disclosure. We cover what is verified, why exploitation converges on a web server spawning a shell, and the Elastic detections developed to catch this behavior.
Summary from Elastic Security Labs.
Explained
The technology and terms in this story. Learn more
- TechnologyPHPA programming language that powers a large share of websites, including WordPress.
- AttackRemote code execution · RCEA flaw that lets an attacker run their own code on someone else's machine over the network.
- ConceptCVE · Common Vulnerabilities and ExposuresThe public ID system for vulnerabilities, such as CVE-2026-12345, so everyone means the same bug.
- ConceptExploitCode or a technique that turns a software flaw into something an attacker can actually use.
Why it was possible
The weaknesses behind this story's CVEs, from each CVE Record.
Vulnerabilities in this story
Severity and exploitation facts from NVD, FIRST, and CISA.
Related coverage
Other sources covering the same vulnerabilities or event.
SANS Stormcast Thursday, October 22nd, 2026: Critical PHP RCE Vulnerabilities Exploited (CVE-2026-109618, CVE-2026-109619); Fortinet AI-Driven Security Hardening Release for FortiOS and More
Podcast13 minSANS Internet Storm Center StormCast4d agoAppSecNetworkVulnerabilitiesCVE-2026-109618CVE-2026-109619