# CVE-2026-7262: PHP SOAP extension NULL pointer dereference in apache:Map decoder

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-7262-php-soap-extension-null-pointer-dereference-in-apache-map-decoder  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-05-10. Updated: 2026-06-30  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-7262 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.5 · Published 2026-05-10

PHP is a widely used programming language for web development. A flaw in its SOAP extension, which handles web service communications, allows a remote attacker to crash the server by sending a specially crafted request. This results in a denial of service, potentially taking websites or applications offline.

Technologies: [PHP Group PHP](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/php), [Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/enterprise-linux-appstream). Vendors: [PHP Group](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/php-group), [Red Hat](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/red-hat).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-7262 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-7262 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-7262?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.5, published 10 May 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** PHP Group PHP 8.2.* before 8.2.31, 8.3.* before 8.3.31, 8.4.* before 8.4.21, 8.5.* before 8.5.6, 8.2.0 - 8.2.30, 8.3.0 - 8.3.30, 8.4.0 - 8.4.20, 8.5.0 - 8.5.5; Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream 8, 9, 10.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-7262?** A patch was published on 2026-06-01: Red Hat released security updates for RHEL 9 (RHSA-2026:22142) Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-7262 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-7262?** Check whether you run PHP Group PHP or Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

A vulnerability exists in the `to_zval_map()` function within `ext/soap/php_encoding.c` of the PHP SOAP extension. When a SOAP server is configured with a typemap, the decoder incorrectly validates the `xmlKey` variable instead of `xmlValue` when processing the `<value>` branch of an `apache:Map` node. If a request contains an `apache:Map` node with a missing `<value>` element, the subsequent call to `master_to_zval_int()` attempts to access properties on a NULL pointer. This results in a segmentation fault and process crash. The issue is exploitable by a remote, unauthenticated attacker and has been patched in PHP versions 8.2.31, 8.3.31, 8.4.21, and 8.5.6.

## Affected products

- PHP Group PHP 8.2.* before 8.2.31, 8.3.* before 8.3.31, 8.4.* before 8.4.21, 8.5.* before 8.5.6
- Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream 8, 9, 10

## Timeline

- 2026-05-07: advisory: PHP Group published security advisory GHSA-hmxp-6pc4-f3vv
- 2026-05-10: disclosed: CVE-2026-7262 published to NVD
- 2026-06-01: patched: Red Hat released security updates for RHEL 9 (RHSA-2026:22142)

## References

- [https://github.com/php/php-src/security/advisories/GHSA-hmxp-6pc4-f3vv](https://github.com/php/php-src/security/advisories/GHSA-hmxp-6pc4-f3vv)
- [https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:22142](https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:22142)
- [https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:22143](https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:22143)
- [https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:22305](https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:22305)
- [https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:22649](https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:22649)
- [https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:23388](https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:23388)
- [https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-7262](https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-7262)

## Related threats

- [PHP use-after-free in global state handling](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-109619-php-has-various-global-state-that-temporarily-points-into)
- [PHP Memory Corruption Vulnerability](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-109618-gcp-2026-070)
- [PHP Phar uncontrolled recursion in phar_get_link_source](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-7260-php-phar-uncontrolled-recursion-in-phar-get-link-source)
- [PHP BCMath out-of-bounds write in bccomp](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-17544-php-bcmath-out-of-bounds-write-in-bccomp)
- [PHP ext-pgsql SQL injection in pg_select and related functions](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-17543-php-ext-pgsql-sql-injection-in-pg-select-and-related-functions)