OS Command Injection Vulnerability in Xdebug PHP Debugging Extension
CVE-2015-10141

9.3CRITICAL

Key Information:

Vendor

Xdebug

Status
Xdebug
Vendor
CVE Published:
23 July 2025

Badges

👾 Exploit Exists🟡 Public PoC

What is CVE-2015-10141?

An OS command injection vulnerability exists in Xdebug, a PHP debugging extension, allowing unauthenticated attackers to exploit the remote debugging feature. When remote debugging is enabled, Xdebug listens on port 9000, accepting debugger protocol commands without authentication. This vulnerability allows an attacker to send a specially crafted eval command, which may execute arbitrary PHP code on the server, invoking system-level functions and potentially leading to a complete compromise of the host system under the privileges of the web server user.

Affected Version(s)

Xdebug * <= 2.5.5

Exploit Proof of Concept (PoC)

PoC code is written by security researchers to demonstrate the vulnerability can be exploited. PoC code is also a key component for weaponization which could lead to ransomware.

CVE-2015-10141 - Proof of Concept

CVE-2015-10141 - Proof of Concept

References

https://xdebug.org/
product
https://kirtixs.com/blog/2015/11/13/xpwn-exploiting-xdebu...
technical-description
http://web.archive.org/web/20231226215418/https://paper.s...
technical-description

CVSS V4

Score:
9.3
Severity:
CRITICAL
Confidentiality:
High
Integrity:
High
Availability:
High
Attack Vector:
Network
Attack Complexity:
Low
Attack Required:
None
Privileges Required:
Undefined
User Interaction:
None

Timeline

  • 🟡

    Public PoC available

  • 👾

    Exploit known to exist

  • Vulnerability published

  • Vulnerability Reserved

Credit

Ricter Zheng
.
CVE-2015-10141 : OS Command Injection Vulnerability in Xdebug PHP Debugging Extension