CVE-2003-0442: Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the transparent SID support capability for PHP before 4.3.2 (se...

Security readout for executives and security teams

CVE-2003-0442 is an old PHP cross-site scripting issue. Sites running PHP before 4.3.2 with transparent session ID support could let an attacker inject script through the PHPSESSID value. The main business concern is legacy internet-facing PHP still present in forgotten systems. Exposure is most likely in legacy PHP applications or appliances still running PHP earlier than 4.3.2, especially where transparent session IDs are enabled and user-controlled session identifiers appear in generated pages or links. Handle as a legacy exposure cleanup item unless vulnerable PHP is internet-facing or supports authenticated workflows. Unsupported PHP versions carry broader operational risk beyond this single CVE. Mitigation focus: Upgrade PHP to 4.3.2 or later, preferably supported vendor packages.; Apply relevant distribution advisories for Debian, Red Hat, Mandrake, Conectiva, TurboLinux, or OpenPKG.; Review whether transparent SID support is enabled and still operationally required..

Prepared

Jun 30, 2026, 10:14 UTC (UTC+00:00)

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.