# CVE-2004-1063: Security feature bypass in n/a

> Local attackers can bypass PHP safe mode restrictions to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in directory names on multithreaded Unix servers.

- **Severity:** Critical 10.0 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 8 Dec 2004
- **Updated:** 8 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-8w9g-f9jw-3mqv

## What is CVE-2004-1063?

CVE-2004-1063 is a critical vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 8 Dec 2004. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

PHP 4.x to 4.3.9, and PHP 5.x to 5.0.2, when running in safe mode on a multithreaded Unix webserver, allows local users to bypass safe_mode_exec_dir restrictions and execute commands outside of the intended safe_mode_exec_dir via shell metacharacters in the current directory name.  NOTE: this issue was originally REJECTed by its CNA before publication, but that decision is in active dispute.  This candidate may change significantly in the future as a result of further discussion.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2004-1063?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Canonical Ubuntu Linux, Php Php.

## How do I fix CVE-2004-1063?

No fix has been published for CVE-2004-1063 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2004-1063 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2004-1063 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Canonical Ubuntu Linux

- [CVE-2020-11651](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-11651/): SaltStack Salt Authentication Bypass (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-7247](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7247/): OpenSMTPD Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-16928](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-16928/): Exim Out-of-bounds Write (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2018-6789](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-6789/): Exim Buffer Overflow (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2015-2590](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-2590/): Oracle Java SE and Java SE Embedded Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2004-1063 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2004-1063 is a critical vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 8 Dec 2004. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2004-1063 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Canonical Ubuntu Linux. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-1063/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-1063/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2004-1063
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2004-1063
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2004-1063

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-1063/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.