Vendor Phpunit Phpunit Src Util Php Eval-stdin.php Exploit [Popular - 2026]
When deploying via Composer, always use the --no-dev flag (e.g., composer install --no-dev ) to ensure testing tools like PHPUnit are never installed on live servers.
Immediate mitigation steps (prioritize)
The attacker scans for the existence of the file. A simple GET request to /vendor/phpunit/phpunit/src/Util/PHP/eval-stdin.php might return a blank page or a 200 OK status, confirming the file is present.
Within the PHPUnit source code, specifically in versions before 4.8.28 and 5.x before 5.6.3, there exists a utility file designed to facilitate a specific type of test called a "Runnable test." The file path is: vendor phpunit phpunit src util php eval-stdin.php exploit
request containing arbitrary PHP code to that URL. The server will then execute that code with the same permissions as the web server [1, 3]. How to Mitigate It If you are managing a project where this file exists: Restrict Access: Ensure your
In essence, this file says: "Dear internet, please send me any PHP code you like. I promise to run it immediately."
Not by default. Many .htaccess or nginx configurations do not explicitly block access to the vendor/ folder, assuming it contains only PHP classes. This is a fatal assumption. When deploying via Composer, always use the --no-dev flag (e
POST /vendor/phpunit/phpunit/src/Util/PHP/eval-stdin.php HTTP/1.1 Host: target-vulnerable-site.com Content-Length: 32 Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded Use code with caution. Exploit Breakdown The URL points directly to the utility script. The Request Body: The body contains raw PHP code.
with rules to block eval-stdin.php and php://input abuse. Example ModSecurity rule:
Attackers run arbitrary shell commands to download malware, backdoors, or cryptominers. Within the PHPUnit source code, specifically in versions
| Factor | Explanation | |--------|-------------| | | The script requires no login, token, or special header. | | Trivial to find | Attackers use automated scanners to crawl for /vendor/phpunit/.../eval-stdin.php . | | Low attack complexity | Any network-level attacker can exploit it; no user interaction needed. | | Full RCE | Attackers can execute arbitrary system commands, not just PHP functions. | | Privilege context | The script runs with the web server user’s privileges (e.g., www-data ), often with read access to files and write access to certain directories. |
The content regarding vendor/phpunit/phpunit/src/Util/PHP/eval-stdin.php refers to , a critical Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerability in the PHPUnit testing framework. Although discovered in 2017, it remains a frequent target for automated scanners and malware like Androxgh0st because it is often accidentally left in production environments. Vulnerability Mechanism
The exploit targeting vendor/phpunit/phpunit/src/Util/PHP/eval-stdin.php