Vulnerabilities & Exploits

PHP2Shell attacks give exposed PAN-OS consoles code execution

Palo Alto Networks says attackers are actively exploiting two PHP2Shell flaws against internet-exposed PAN-OS management interfaces, allowing code execution without authentication. The flaws are tracked as CVE-2026-109618 and CVE-2026-109619.

When PHP runs out of memory, it can abruptly leave a request while other PHP state still points to memory that request used. Attackers can exploit that mismatch to run code without logging in, turning a reachable management interface into a foothold on the firewall’s control plane.

Dream separately reported a chain involving PHP2Shell and a Linux kernel flaw that rooted 25 servers and enabled attacks against Active Directory, but did not name the firewall vendor; a connection to Palo Alto’s warning remains unconfirmed. For organizations exposing PAN-OS or Panorama management surfaces, that uncertainty matters: a compromised control plane could put connected identity systems in scope, not just the firewall.

1 source · 3h ago

CVE-2026-109618

NVD KEV

Known exploited · CISA KEV

CVSS 9.8 CRITICAL: pHP uses longjmp() for out-of-memory (OOM) errors to exit the current context and abort handling of the request. EPSS 100% (100th percentile).

CISA federal remediation date Oct 29

CVE-2026-109619

NVD KEV

Known exploited · CISA KEV

CVSS 9.8 CRITICAL: pHP has various global state that temporarily points into request memory. EPSS 100% (100th percentile).

CISA federal remediation date Oct 29

Timeline

Sources

Vendor digest: Palo Alto Networks

Part of the PlainSec briefing for 2026-10-29

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