Critical PHP Flaws Prompt Website Shutdowns; Nepal Government Portals Inaccessible

Dragon Media News Desk

Two critical security vulnerabilities in the PHP programming language have prompted the temporary shutdown of government and public websites in several countries, including Nepal. PHP developers released security updates for the flaws on Wednesday. The vulnerabilities could allow attackers to run code remotely on affected servers, according to PHP’s official notice.

Cybersecurity agencies have advised organizations unable to install the updates immediately to take their websites offline temporarily. Some government websites and public services in Europe went offline while security updates were being applied.

Desh Sanchar reported that the websites of the President’s Office, the Prime Minister’s Office, several ministries and local governments in Nepal were inaccessible on Thursday morning. The report did not confirm whether the sites were taken offline because of the vulnerabilities or were unavailable due to a technical disruption. No confirmation from the relevant Nepali authorities was cited.

PHP developers have urged users of affected versions to install the security updates immediately.