Multiple format string vulnerabilities in the phar extension in PHP 5.3 before 5.3.2 allow context-dependent attackers to obtain sensitive information (memory contents) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted phar:// URI that is not properly handled by the (1) phar_stream_flush, (2) phar_wrapper_unlink, (3) phar_parse_url, or (4) phar_wrapper_open_url functions in ext/phar/stream.c; and the (5) phar_wrapper_open_dir function in ext/phar/dirstream.c, which triggers errors in the php_stream_wrapper_log_error function.
The product uses a function that accepts a format string as an argument, but the format string originates from an external source.
| Name | Vendor | Start Version | End Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| Php | Php | 5.3.0 (including) | 5.3.0 (including) |
| Php | Php | 5.3.1 (including) | 5.3.1 (including) |
| Php5 | Ubuntu | devel | * |
| Php5 | Ubuntu | lucid | * |
When an attacker can modify an externally-controlled format string, this can lead to buffer overflows, denial of service, or data representation problems. It should be noted that in some circumstances, such as internationalization, the set of format strings is externally controlled by design. If the source of these format strings is trusted (e.g. only contained in library files that are only modifiable by the system administrator), then the external control might not itself pose a vulnerability.