CRITICAL
CVE-2004-0542
NVD-CWE-noinfoPublished: August 6, 2004· Updated: Jun 16, 2026
10.0
CVSS v3.1
Official Description
PHP before 4.3.7 on Win32 platforms does not properly filter all shell metacharacters, which allows local or remote attackers to execute arbitrary code, overwrite files, and access internal environment variables via (1) the "%", "|", or ">" characters to the escapeshellcmd function, or (2) the "%" character to the escapeshellarg function.
Technical Analysis
CVE-2004-0542 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.
Exploitation requires some privileges, which limits the exposure to scenarios where an attacker has already gained initial access.
CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown
Exploitability
Attack VectorNetwork
Attack ComplexityLow
Privileges Req.
User Interaction
Scope
Impact
ConfidentialityC
IntegrityC
AvailabilityC
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
Affected Vendors & Products
PHP1 product(s)
php
Source: NVD CPE · 1 total CPE entries
Exploit & PoC Resources
NO KNOWN EXPLOITNo public exploit confirmed at this time
Exploit-DB
Offensive Security exploit database
GitHub PoC Search
Community PoC repositories
Rapid7 / Metasploit
Metasploit module search
PacketStorm
Security advisories & exploits
NVD Detail
Official NIST entry
MITRE CVE
CVE Program entry
External links open in a new tab. Always verify in a controlled environment before use.
Official Patches & Advisories
All References (6)
→
http://www.idefense.com/application/poi/display?id=108Not Applicable
→
http://www.php.net/release_4_3_7.phpPatch · Release Notes · Vendor Advisory
→
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/16331Third Party Advisory · VDB Entry
→
http://www.idefense.com/application/poi/display?id=108Not Applicable
→
http://www.php.net/release_4_3_7.phpPatch · Release Notes · Vendor Advisory
→
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/16331Third Party Advisory · VDB Entry
Quick Facts
CVE IDCVE-2004-0542
CVSS Score10.0 / 10
SeverityCRITICAL
WeaknessNVD-CWE-noinfo
CISA KEVNo
Affected1 vendor(s)
PublishedAug 6, 2004
Related CVEs (NVD-CWE-noinfo)
Recommended Actions
- →Apply vendor patches immediately
- →Monitor CVE-2004-0542 in threat intel feeds
- →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts
Data sourced from NVD (NIST), CISA KEV, and EPSS (FIRST). Analysis generated by CTIWATCH.COM. CVE data is provided under the NVD usage policy.