CVE-2026-7261: SoapServer session-persisted object use-after-free via SOAP header fault

Published May 7, 2026
·
Updated

Fixed (Use-after-free after header parsing failure with SOAPPERSISTENCESESSION). (CVE-2026-7261)

Other sources

In PHP versions 8.2. before 8.2.31, 8.3. before 8.3.31, 8.4. before 8.4.21, and 8.5. before 8.5.6, when SoapServer is configured with SOAPPERSISTENCESESSION, the handler object is persisted across requests via session storage. However, in the case SOAP requests results in an error, the persistance is handled incorrectly, resulting in freeing the object while keeping a pointer to it, which may lead to use-after-free. This may lead to memory corruption, information disclosure, or process crashes, with confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact on the vulnerable system.

— MITRE

Affected Software

18 affected componentsFixes available
PHP PHP<8.5.6
8.5.6
debian/php7.4<=7.4.33-1+deb11u5
7.4.33-1+deb11u11
debian/php8.2
8.2.31-1~deb12u18.2.32-1~deb12u1
debian/php8.4<=8.4.16-1~deb13u1
8.4.23-1~deb13u18.4.23-1
PHP PHP>=8.2.0<8.2.31
PHP PHP>=8.3.0<8.3.31
PHP PHP>=8.4.0<8.4.21
PHP PHP>=8.5.0<8.5.6
alpine/php81<8.1.34-r0
8.1.34-r0
alpine/php82<8.2.31-r0
8.2.31-r0
alpine/php83<8.3.36-r0
8.3.36-r0
alpine/php83<8.3.31-r0
8.3.31-r0
alpine/php83<8.3.31-r0
8.3.31-r0
alpine/php84<8.4.27-r0
8.4.27-r0
alpine/php84<8.4.21-r0
8.4.21-r0
alpine/php84<8.4.21-r0
8.4.21-r0
alpine/php85<8.5.6-r0
8.5.6-r0
alpine/php85<8.5.6-r0
8.5.6-r0

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 8.5.6
  2. Upgrade

    Upgrade debian/php7.4 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.4.33-1+deb11u11
  3. Upgrade

    Upgrade debian/php8.2 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 8.2.31-1~deb12u1Fixed in 8.2.32-1~deb12u1
  4. Upgrade

    Upgrade debian/php8.4 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 8.4.23-1~deb13u1Fixed in 8.4.23-1
  5. Upgrade

    Upgrade alpine/php81 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 8.1.34-r0
  6. Upgrade

    Upgrade alpine/php82 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 8.2.31-r0
  7. Upgrade

    Upgrade alpine/php83 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 8.3.36-r0
  8. Upgrade

    Upgrade alpine/php83 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 8.3.31-r0
  9. Upgrade

    Upgrade alpine/php84 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 8.4.27-r0
  10. Upgrade

    Upgrade alpine/php84 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 8.4.21-r0
  11. Upgrade

    Upgrade alpine/php85 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 8.5.6-r0
  12. Upgrade

    Upgrade PHP SoapServer to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 8.2.31
  13. Upgrade

    Upgrade PHP SoapServer to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 8.3.31
  14. Upgrade

    Upgrade PHP SoapServer to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 8.4.21
  15. Upgrade

    Upgrade PHP SoapServer to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 8.5.6

Event History

May 7, 2026
CVE Published
via PHP·12:00 AM
Data Sourced
via PHP·12:00 AM
DescriptionAffected Software
May 10, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·04:07 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·04:07 AM
DescriptionWeakness
Data Sourced
via Red Hat·05:01 AM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Data Sourced
via NVD·05:16 AM
DescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software
Data Sourced
via OSV·05:16 AM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2026-7261?

CVE-2026-7261 has a high severity due to the potential for remote exploitation through a use-after-free vulnerability.

2

How do I fix CVE-2026-7261?

To fix CVE-2026-7261, upgrade your PHP version to 8.5.6 or later.

3

Which PHP versions are affected by CVE-2026-7261?

CVE-2026-7261 affects PHP versions 8.2.* before 8.2.31, 8.3.* before 8.3.31, 8.4.* before 8.4.21, and 8.5.* before 8.5.6.

4

What should I do if I cannot upgrade to a fixed version for CVE-2026-7261?

If upgrading is not possible, consider disabling the use of SoapServer or implementing additional security measures to mitigate the risk.

5

Are there any workarounds for CVE-2026-7261?

Currently, there are no known effective workarounds for CVE-2026-7261, and upgrading PHP is the recommended action.

Company

Resources

Contact

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