AI helped uncover something dangerous in the software behind a huge part of the internet. Government websites went offline as a precaution while defenders raced to respond. Here's how OpenAI and Google's models helped researchers uncover PHP2Shell, why finding the flaws was only the beginning, and what you can do to protect yourself. ______________________________________________ My Links 🔗 ➡️ Twitter: https://x.com/WesRothMoney ➡️ AI Newsletter: https://natural20.beehiiv.com/subscribe Want to work with me? Brand, sponsorship & business inquiries: wesroth@smoothmedia.co ______________________________________________ SOURCES: Dutch government: precautionary website shutdowns: https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/actueel/nieuws/2026/10/21/aantal-websites-rijksoverheid-preventief-offline-na-kwetsbaarheden-php PHP: official security advisory and updates: https://www.php.net/archive/2026.php#2026-10-21-5 Calif: the original PHP2Shell research: https://calif.io/php2shell/ Wiz: how AI helped uncover the vulnerabilities: https://www.wiz.io/blog/php2shell-php-rce OpenAI: Patch the Planet and the coordinated response: https://openai.com/index/coordinated-disclosure-of-critical-vulnerabilities/ Cloudflare: protections against PHP2Shell: https://blog.cloudflare.com/php-vulnerabilities-waf-protection NCSC: practical
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