---
title: "WEB-PHP-004 PHP Version Past End of Security Support"
canonical: https://openvapt.com/checks/WEB-PHP-004.html
html: https://openvapt.com/checks/WEB-PHP-004.html
site: OpenVAPT, https://openvapt.com/
license: OpenVAPT Source-Available Licence 1.3, https://openvapt.com/legal/licence-text.html
modified: 2026-10-14
version: 0.1.0-alpha.6
---

# WEB-PHP-004 PHP Version Past End of Security Support

Checks whether the installed PHP branch still receives security fixes from the PHP project.

- Domain: Web Apps
- Severity: High
- Control category: Patch and Vulnerability Management
- Fix effort: high
- CVSS v3.1 vector: `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`
- CIS Controls v8: 2.2
- NIST CSF 2.0: ID.RA-01, PR.PS-02
- CWE: CWE-1104
- OWASP Top 10 2021: A06:2021
- OWASP ASVS 4.0.3: 14.2.1
- NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5: SI-2

## Why It Matters

Unsupported PHP versions never get fixes for newly found vulnerabilities, some of which allow remote code execution.

## How It Detects

Runs php -v, extracts the major.minor version and compares it with the PHP project's published end-of-security-support dates. Distribution vendors may backport fixes; the evidence notes this.

## How to Fix

Upgrade to a supported PHP branch (see php.net/supported-versions) and test the applications, or confirm your distribution still backports security fixes to this version.

## How to Verify

```
php -v
```

## Learn the Theory

- [F3 Vulnerabilities, CVE, CWE and CVSS](https://openvapt.com/academy/f3.md)
- [P6 Information Exposure and Misconfiguration](https://openvapt.com/academy/p6.md)

## References

- [PHP, Supported Versions](https://www.php.net/supported-versions.php)

## Source Code

https://github.com/OpenVAPT/openvapt/blob/574f7f3333c44b75a3c649e2d93a76d507f75adf/internal/checks/web/php.go

Run it: `openvapt scan --only WEB-PHP-004`. Read it offline: `openvapt explain WEB-PHP-004`.

---

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