---
title: "CVE-2017-9841: Improper Control of Generation of Code | CubePath"
description: "Util/PHP/eval-stdin.php in PHPUnit before 4.8.28 and 5.x before 5.6.3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via HTTP POST data beginning…"
language: en
source: https://cubepath.com/security/cve/CVE-2017-9841
---

# CVE-2017-9841: Improper Control of Generation of Code | CubePath

## Description

Util/PHP/eval-stdin.php in PHPUnit before 4.8.28 and 5.x before 5.6.3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via HTTP POST data beginning with a "<?php " substring, as demonstrated by an attack on a site with an exposed /vendor folder, i.e., external access to the /vendor/phpunit/phpunit/src/Util/PHP/eval-stdin.php URI.

Official description from the CVE record, published by mitre. Copyright © 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. See [/security/cve/legal](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal) for the CVE license. [View the record on cve.org](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-9841)

## Key data

### CVSS 3.1 Critical 9.8

Score published by CISA-ADP in the CVE record.

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

| Metric                 | Value     | What it means                                                                       |
| ---------------------- | --------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Attack vector          | Network   | The vulnerable component can be reached over a network, possibly from the Internet. |
| Attack complexity      | Low       | No special conditions are needed. The attack can be repeated at will.               |
| Privileges required    | None      | No account or privileges are needed.                                                |
| User interaction       | None      | No action from any user is needed.                                                  |
| Scope                  | Unchanged | The impact stays within the vulnerable component.                                   |
| Confidentiality impact | High      | Serious or total effect on the secrecy of data.                                     |
| Integrity impact       | High      | Serious or total effect on the trustworthiness of data.                             |
| Availability impact    | High      | Serious or total effect on availability.                                            |

CVSS is owned and managed by FIRST.Org, Inc. (FIRST) and is used by permission. Each CVSS score on this site is shown together with its vector string, as published in the CVE record by the source named next to it. Learn more at [first.org/cvss](https://www.first.org/cvss/) .

### EPSS

Exploit Prediction Scoring System by FIRST: an estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days.

Score

0.99999 (99.99% probability)

Percentile

99.99%

Scores of

Nov 10, 2026

Model

v2026.06.15

### CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities

This CVE is listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

Name in the catalog

PHPUnit Command Injection Vulnerability

Added to the catalog

Feb 15, 2022

Federal due date

Aug 15, 2022

### CISA assessment as of Feb 7, 2025

Stakeholder-Specific Vulnerability Categorization (SSVC) decision points added by CISA.

Exploitation

Recorded by CISA as active

Automatable

yes

Technical impact

total

### Weakness (CWE)

CWE catalog version 5.0.

CWE names: Copyright © 2006-2026, The MITRE Corporation. See [/security/cve/legal](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal) for the CWE license.

- [CWE-94](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/94.html) Improper Control of Generation of Code

## References

Links listed in the CVE record. They lead to other sites, which CubePath does not control.

- [101798](http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/101798)  (securityfocus.com) vdb-entry
- [1039812](http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1039812)  (securitytracker.com) vdb-entry
- [GLSA-201711-15](https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201711-15)  (security.gentoo.org) vendor-advisory
- [oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2021.html](https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2021.html)
- [github.com/sebastianbergmann/phpunit/commit/284a69fb88a2d08…](https://github.com/sebastianbergmann/phpunit/commit/284a69fb88a2d0845d23f42974a583d8f59bf5a5)
- [github.com/sebastianbergmann/phpunit/pull/1956](https://github.com/sebastianbergmann/phpunit/pull/1956)
- [web.archive.org/web/20170701212357/http://phpunit.vulnbuste…](http://web.archive.org/web/20170701212357/http://phpunit.vulnbusters.com/)

## Timeline

1. ID reserved Jun 24, 2017
2. Record published Jun 27, 2017
3. Added to CISA KEV Feb 15, 2022
4. Record last updated Oct 21, 2025

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## About CubePath

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Data from the CVE Program (MITRE), CISA KEV and FIRST EPSS. CVSS is owned by FIRST and used by permission. Not affiliated with or endorsed by MITRE, CISA or FIRST. Data as of Nov 10, 2026, 19:58 UTC. [Sources and licenses](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal)