---
title: "CVE-2015-4642\n    | Ubuntu"
description: Ubuntu is an open source software operating system that runs from the
  desktop, to the cloud, to all your internet connected things.
url: https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2015-4642?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2015-4642

Publication date 16 May 2016

Last updated 25 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Medium**

[Why this priority?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#priority )

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**9.8 · Critical**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2015-4642?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

The escapeshellarg function in ext/standard/exec.c in PHP before 5.4.42,
5.5.x before 5.5.26, and 5.6.x before 5.6.10 on Windows allows remote
attackers to execute arbitrary OS commands via a crafted string to an
application that accepts command-line arguments for a call to the PHP
system function.

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2015-4642?format=md#notes)

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| php5 | 15.04 vivid | Not affected |
| 14.10 utopic | Not affected |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not affected |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not affected |

---

* [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)
* [What do statuses mean?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#statuses)
* [Patch details](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2015-4642?format=md#patch-details)

## Notes

---

### [mdeslaur](https://launchpad.net/~mdeslaur)

windows-specific

### Patch details

For informational purposes only. We recommend not to cherry-pick updates. [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)

| Package | Patch details |
| --- | --- |
| php5 | * Upstream:   <http://git.php.net/?p=php-src.git;a=commitdiff;h=d2ac264ffea5ca2e85640b6736e0c7cd4ee9a4a9> |

## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

9.8 · Critical

* Base metrics

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Attack vector | Network |
  | Attack complexity | Low |
  | Privileges required | None |
  | User interaction | None |
  | Scope | Unchanged |
  | Confidentiality impact | High |
  | Integrity impact | High |
  | Availability impact | High |
* Scores

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 9.8 · Critical |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

**Vector:** CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2015-4642)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-4642)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2015-4642)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2015-4642)

### Other references

* <http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2015/06/18/3>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2015-4642>