Analyst readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2010-4700 is an old PHP issue affecting PHP 5.3.2 and 5.3.3 when MySQLi is used. A change in magic quotes behavior could cause applications to mishandle input they previously treated safely, increasing SQL injection risk in certain code paths.
Executive priority
Treat this as a legacy-platform risk. It is not documented here as actively exploited, but SQL injection exposure can be severe if vulnerable code remains internet-facing. Priority should be highest where old PHP 5.3.x applications still process untrusted input.
Technical view
The issue involves set_magic_quotes_runtime interacting incorrectly with mysqli_fetch_assoc in PHP 5.3.2 and 5.3.3. The source states crafted input that was handled safely in earlier PHP versions may become easier to use for context-dependent SQL injection. No CVSS score or CWE is provided in the bundle.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely in legacy applications still running PHP 5.3.2 or 5.3.3, using the MySQLi extension, and relying on magic quotes behavior instead of explicit SQL parameterization. The affected product metadata in the bundle is incomplete.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation evidence. The described attack condition is context-dependent and depends on application code, input handling assumptions, and use of mysqli_fetch_assoc with runtime magic quotes behavior.
Researcher notes
Evidence is clear on the vulnerable PHP versions and the relevant MySQLi interaction, but incomplete on severity scoring, CWEs, exploit availability, and exact fixed versions. Validation should focus on runtime version, extension use, and application reliance on magic quotes semantics.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory systems running PHP 5.3.2 or 5.3.3.
- Upgrade PHP according to vendor or distribution guidance.
- Check whether MySQLi is enabled in legacy applications.
- Review application code that relies on magic quotes behavior.
- Use explicit parameterized database queries where applicable.
- Confirm whether OS packages contain vendor backported fixes.
Validation and detection
- Confirm PHP runtime versions across production and staging systems.
- Identify applications using the MySQLi extension.
- Review code paths using set_magic_quotes_runtime and mysqli_fetch_assoc.
- Validate database access code does not depend on magic quotes.
- Check vendor changelogs or package advisories for this CVE.
- Prioritize externally reachable legacy PHP applications for review.
Public sources used
Based on public source material and reviewed before publication.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
Database behavior lookup
The CVE wording references database injection or access, so collection and exfiltration review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2010-4700 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:12620CVE reference · vdb-entry, signature
- http://www.php.net/ChangeLog-5.phpCVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- 46056CVE reference · vdb-entry, x_refsource_BID
- http://bugs.php.net/52221CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- php-setmagicquotesruntime-sql-injection(64964)CVE reference · vdb-entry, x_refsource_XF
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
