CVE-2026-46420
setup-php: Command Injection in Repository-Derived PHP Version Resolution
Description
setup-php is a GitHub action to set up PHP with extensions, php.ini configuration, coverage drivers, and tools. From 2.25.0 prior to 2.37.1, shivammathur/setup-php resolves the PHP version from repository-controlled files such as .php-version, composer.lock through platform-overrides.php, and composer.json through config.platform.php, and insufficiently constrains those values before incorporating them into generated shell or PowerShell setup scripts, allowing command injection on a GitHub Actions runner when workflows such as pull_request_target check out attacker-controlled contents before invoking setup-php. This issue is fixed in version 2.37.1.
INFO
Published Date :
July 17, 2026, 8:17 p.m.
Last Modified :
Aug. 18, 2026, 3:54 p.m.
Remotely Exploit :
Yes !
Source :
[email protected]
CVSS Scores
| Score | Version | Severity | Vector | Exploitability Score | Impact Score | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS | 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0 | |||||
| CVSS 3.1 | MEDIUM | [email protected] | ||||
| CVSS 3.1 | CRITICAL | [email protected] |
Solution
- Update setup-php to version 2.37.1 or later.
- Ensure PHP versions are properly validated.
Public PoC/Exploit Available at Github
CVE-2026-46420 has a 2 public
PoC/Exploit available at Github.
Go to the Public Exploits tab to see the list.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
Here, you will find a curated list of external links that provide in-depth
information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to
CVE-2026-46420.
| URL | Resource |
|---|---|
| https://github.com/shivammathur/setup-php/commit/eeef37e059fb5368a5bc8ed8ce45ff54bd39b80b | Patch |
| https://github.com/shivammathur/setup-php/releases/tag/2.37.1 | Product Release Notes |
| https://github.com/shivammathur/setup-php/security/advisories/GHSA-pqwm-q9pv-ph8r | Patch Vendor Advisory |
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies
specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2026-46420 is
associated with the following CWEs:
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification
(CAPEC)
stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and
approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2026-46420
weaknesses.
We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).
PoC for CVE-2026-46420, command injection in shivammathur/setup-php via repository-controlled PHP version resolution.
command-injection cwe-78 github-actions poc security-research setup-php cve-2026-46420
📡 PoC auto collect from GitHub. ⚠️ Be careful Malware.
security cve exploit poc vulnerability
Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.
The following list is the news that have been mention
CVE-2026-46420 vulnerability anywhere in the article.
The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
CVE-2026-46420 vulnerability over time.
Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.
-
Initial Analysis by [email protected]
Aug. 18, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added CVSS V3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Added CPE Configuration OR *cpe:2.3:a:shivammathur:setup_php:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 2.25.0 up to (excluding) 2.37.1 Added Reference Type GitHub, Inc.: https://github.com/shivammathur/setup-php/commit/eeef37e059fb5368a5bc8ed8ce45ff54bd39b80b Types: Patch Added Reference Type GitHub, Inc.: https://github.com/shivammathur/setup-php/releases/tag/2.37.1 Types: Product, Release Notes Added Reference Type GitHub, Inc.: https://github.com/shivammathur/setup-php/security/advisories/GHSA-pqwm-q9pv-ph8r Types: Patch, Vendor Advisory -
CVE Modified by 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0
Jul. 20, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added SSVC {'id': 'CVE-2026-46420', 'role': 'CISA Coordinator', 'options': [{'exploitation': 'none'}, {'automatable': 'no'}, {'technicalImpact': 'partial'}], 'version': '2.0.3', 'timestamp': '2026-07-20T18:09:22.675511Z'} -
New CVE Received by [email protected]
Jul. 17, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Affected [{'vendor': 'shivammathur', 'product': 'setup-php', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '>= 2.25.0, < 2.37.1'}]}] Added Description setup-php is a GitHub action to set up PHP with extensions, php.ini configuration, coverage drivers, and tools. From 2.25.0 prior to 2.37.1, shivammathur/setup-php resolves the PHP version from repository-controlled files such as .php-version, composer.lock through platform-overrides.php, and composer.json through config.platform.php, and insufficiently constrains those values before incorporating them into generated shell or PowerShell setup scripts, allowing command injection on a GitHub Actions runner when workflows such as pull_request_target check out attacker-controlled contents before invoking setup-php. This issue is fixed in version 2.37.1. Added CVSS V3.1 AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L Added CWE CWE-78 Added Reference https://github.com/shivammathur/setup-php/commit/eeef37e059fb5368a5bc8ed8ce45ff54bd39b80b Added Reference https://github.com/shivammathur/setup-php/releases/tag/2.37.1 Added Reference https://github.com/shivammathur/setup-php/security/advisories/GHSA-pqwm-q9pv-ph8r