# CVE-2015-10141: Xdebug Remote Debugger Unauthenticated OS Command Execution

> Unauthenticated attackers can execute arbitrary OS commands via the Xdebug remote debugging interface when enabled, leading to full host compromise.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.3 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 23 Jul 2025
- **Updated:** 15 May 2026
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2015-10141, GHSA-267w-63f8-m896, UBUNTU-CVE-2015-10141

## What is CVE-2015-10141?

CVE-2015-10141 is a critical command injection vulnerability in Xdebug, published on 23 Jul 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

An unauthenticated OS command injection vulnerability exists within Xdebug versions 2.5.5 and earlier, a PHP debugging extension developed by Derick Rethans. When remote debugging is enabled, Xdebug listens on port 9000 and accepts debugger protocol commands without authentication. An attacker can send a crafted eval command over this interface to execute arbitrary PHP code, which may invoke system-level functions such as system() or passthru(). This results in full compromise of the host under the privileges of the web server user.

Weakness: CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command), CWE-306 (Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2015-10141?


## How do I fix CVE-2015-10141?

No fix has been published for CVE-2015-10141 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2015-10141 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2015-10141 exists.

Public exploit code:

- POC exploit for CVE-2015-10141 (github_poc): https://github.com/D3Ext/CVE-2015-10141
- xdebug Unauthenticated OS Command Execution (metasploit)
- Proof-of-Concept exploit script for Xdebug 2.5.5 and earlier versions (CVE-2015-10141). (github_poc): https://github.com/n0m4d22/PoC-CVE-2015-10141-Xdebug
- Xdebug <= 2.5.5 - Command Injection (nuclei): http/cves/2015/CVE-2015-10141.yaml

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2015-10141 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2015-10141 is a critical command injection vulnerability in Xdebug, published on 23 Jul 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2015-10141 exists.

Affected product: Xdebug. 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-2015-10141/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-10141/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2015-10141
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-10141
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2015-10141

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-10141/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.