PHP is a computer language. It gives computers instructions to help websites work. Around 70% of the world’s websites use it. Researchers found two serious security problems in PHP. Both received a danger score of 9.2 out of 10. The problems could let attackers take control of computers that run websites or see private information. PHP’s developers released emergency updates on 21 October.
Researchers used artificial intelligence, or AI, to help find the problems. A team called Calif found one with OpenAI’s GPT-5.6 Sol. A separate team at Wiz found both. Information about the problems became public before the planned date. Attackers have tried to use the problems to break into systems.
Some governments in Europe took websites offline as a safety step. These included websites in France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland. The Wikimedia Foundation runs Wikipedia. It also stopped some services during updates. Security officials told organisations to update their systems quickly. They also advised taking affected systems offline until they were safe. These problems affect the computers that run websites, not people’s own phones or computers.
