PHP devs publish critical bug fix as site owners warned: Pull 'em offline if you're unpatched
PHP developers have released emergency updates for two critical vulnerabilities after cybersecurity authorities warned organizations to patch immediately or consider taking exposed applications offline. PHP 8.5.12, 8.4.27, 8.3.36, and 8.2.35 address CVE-2026-109618 and CVE-2026-109619, which can allow unauthenticated remote code execution.
Summary from The Register Security.
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.
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