PHP 5 before 5.2.7 does not properly initialize the page_uid and page_gid global variables for use by the SAPI php_getuid function, which allows context-dependent attackers to bypass safe_mode restrictions via variable settings that are intended to be restricted to root, as demonstrated by a setting of /etc for the error_log variable.
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=124654546101607&w=2
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=125631037611762&w=2
http://secunia.com/advisories/35003
http://secunia.com/advisories/35650
http://securityreason.com/achievement_securityalert/59
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/47318
http://wiki.rpath.com/Advisories:rPSA-2009-0035
http://www.debian.org/security/2009/dsa-1789
http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2009:045
Published: 2008-12-17
Base Score: 7.5
Vector: CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
Severity: High