PHP is one of the most widely used server-side languages, with approximately 75% of web applications using PHP in 2024. As a result, it is a frequent target for malicious attacks. With security breaches making front-page headlines and having lasting consequences for end users, PHP security is a critical aspect of managing your stack.
Whether you’re starting a PHP security plan from scratch or working to improve current practices, it can be a challenge to know where to begin. This guide provides you with the basic information you need to know about PHP security, including how to assess risks, mitigate vulnerabilities, understand compliance, and manage PHP security after a PHP version goes end of life (EOL).
Read along, or jump to a relevant section to learn more.
PHP Security Best Practices: Overview
According to the 2025 PHP Landscape Report, 42.25% of surveyed PHP professionals listed security as a top concern, second only to building new features. However, the report also showed that many teams are not following PHP security best practices, with nearly 38% of respondents deploying applications that use EOL PHP versions – meaning they are no longer receiving security support from the PHP community.
While using up-to-date or supported PHP is the top PHP security best practice, there are several others to consider. PHP security should be implemented at all stages of your application’s lifecycle, from coding with security in mind to ensuring comprehensive employee training.
However, incorporating PHP security best practices is only the first step when it comes to creating secure PHP apps and safeguarding sensitive data.
Learn more about PHP security best practices >> PHP Security Best Practices: 6 Steps to More Secure Applications
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Back to topOn-Demand Webinar: PHP Optimization Strategies
Following PHP security best practices is an efficient method for optimizing your PHP applications. Listen in as our experts discuss how to secure, scale, and optimize enterprise PHP applications.
Identifying and Assessing PHP Security Vulnerabilities
PHP security vulnerabilities are exploitable flaws in a PHP application. These flaws allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to critical systems. With new threats being identified daily, it is essential to stay informed on new and growing risks to PHP security.
Learn more about PHP vulnerabilities >> PHP Vulnerabilities: Assessment and Prevention
PHP CVEs: The Basics
PHP CVEs, or Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures, are PHP security flaws that have been identified, publicly exposed, and assigned an ID number. They are compiled into a list, with entries that include details about the CVE, the CVE’s impact, which PHP versions and extensions are affected, and details regarding mitigation.
CVEs are identified either by the PHP community or dedicated third parties. For example, Zend monitors daily for new PHP security vulnerabilities and exposures. Once a CVE has been made public and we can provide mitigations, we update our PHP Security Center, enabling teams to implement security patches, plan an upgrade, or use workarounds within code to mitigate threats.
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- Blog - CVE-2023-3823: Overview and Mitigation Steps for PHP Applications
- Blog - Mitigating CVE-2023-0662
- Blog - Understanding and Mitigating PHP CVE-2022-31631
- Blog - Zend PHP Security Center
Stay Up to Date on the Latest CVEs
The Zend Security Center is designed to help developers identify and mitigate PHP vulnerabilities before they are exploited, keeping your PHP application secure and compliant.
Preventing Vulnerability Exposure
While reacting to new CVEs is critical for successful PHP security, your team should be actively working to eliminate risks and exposure.
The most effective method for preventing exposure is to use the most up-to-date PHP version available. Each PHP release represents an improvement in security features, with known CVE defenses incorporated into the update. But, even when deploying the most current PHP version, other strategies will be necessary to keep your critical PHP applications secure.
Deploying a robust PHP monitoring system will detect and identify issues before they become problems. Once a vulnerability exposure is found, teams can quickly respond and work to understand, debug, and remediate the root cause. From identifying which services or libraries are at risk to mitigating active threats, comprehensive PHP monitoring improves PHP security.
Related Resources
- Blog – Why Good PHP Monitoring Matters
- Blog – Web Application Monitoring for PHP Developers
- Blog – PHP Debugging: Go Beyond Step Debuggers With ZendHQ
PHP Security and Compliance Considerations
If your PHP application is interacting with any type of sensitive customer data, then PHP compliance requirements must be an aspect of your PHP security.
As the internet is a global stage, your application likely falls under many regulatory umbrellas set by international governments, various industries, and your own internal organizational rules. Common compliance regulations include GDPR, HIPAA, the EU e-Privacy Directive, PCI DSS, SOX, and NIST.
While PHP compliance does ensure that you and your customers are protected, standards often include complicated requirements that require a substantial cost to maintain. Considering the complexity of modern PHP applications, teams will need to create a well-documented and well-planned approach to ensure all compliance regulations are met.
Learn more about PHP security and maintaining compliance >> Everything You Need to Know About Maintaining PHP Compliance
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- Blog – PHP Security and Compliance Trends to Watch
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Managing PHP Security After End of Life
The PHP release cycle moves quickly, with a feature release occurring once per year. Following the initial release, PHP versions receive active support for two years. At the end of that period, versions receive security support for an additional two years, extending through the end of the calendar year, before reaching EOL.
But what happens when a version reaches end of life but is still used within mission-critical applications? And how does it impact PHP security?
Learn More About PHP Versions
PHP changes fast – are your applications keeping up? With every version building on the previous, staying informed on past evolution and ongoing changes is essential to building a comprehensive PHP security strategy.
PHP Security for EOL PHP
PHP versions are considered end of life after security support from the community ends. They will no longer receive security patches, bug fixes, or other support from the community. The longer EOL PHP is deployed, the more bugs and vulnerabilities accumulate, and applications become more and more exposed to compounding risks. If left unmitigated, these vulnerabilities will eventually be exploited.
Upgrading to a supported PHP version – or implementing PHP long term support (LTS) from a trusted third party – is critical for maintaining PHP security. However, each PHP version will have its own requirements and challenges for remaining secure. Explore the resources below to learn more about security for specific EOL PHP versions.
Related Resources
- Blog – PHP 7.4 EOL Is Here: Are Your Applications Ready?
- On-Demand Webinar – Are You Ready for PHP 7.4 EOL?
- Blog – PHP 8.0 Is Here: Now What?
- On-Demand Webinar – Navigating PHP 8.0 EOL and Exploring PHP 8.3
Upgrading and Migrating to Improve PHP Security
Despite the many benefits of upgrading, PHP upgrades and migrations include many moving parts. The more complex your application, the more challenging your upgrade becomes. Testing, library swapping, and more can be difficult to estimate and implement. Your exact plan and execution will vary depending on your application requirements, available resources, and other factors.
Whether you are working with a team of experienced PHP developers or are new to the language, the cost of PHP migration can rise quickly. One solution is to partner with an expert team, such as Zend, to simplify your migration and upgrade process while managing costs, minimizing timelines, and more.
Related Resources
- Blog – PHP Migrations: When Is Migrating PHP Versions the Right Choice?
- Blog – PHP Upgrades: How to Plan and Execute Your Next Upgrade
- Blog – The Benefits of Using the Latest PHP Version
- On-Demand Webinar – Planning for Enterprise PHP Upgrades
- White Paper – Planning Your Next PHP Migration
In-House vs. Third-Party PHP Security Solutions
The right PHP security solution for your applications will vary depending on developer skill set, application complexity, and many other considerations. For instance, containerization has been proven to decrease the attack surface of PHP applications while minimizing data exposure to malicious attacks – but only when done correctly.
If you have an experienced team of PHP developers, then tackling PHP security in-house may be a viable option for you. Or, if you have the available time and resources, PHP training options (including courses focused on PHP application security) can be an excellent resource for improving in-house PHP security practices.
But if your team is unexperienced with PHP, or if developer time and resources are better spent elsewhere, then you may consider outsourcing PHP security solutions to a trusted third party.
Related Resources
- Blog – How PHP Containers Improve PHP Security
- Blog – Hiring PHP Developers vs. PHP Outsourcing vs. Training
- White Paper – The Costs of Building PHP In House
- On-Demand Webinar – The Consequences of Building PHP In-House
Zend PHP Security Solutions
Attempting to keep pace with PHP version releases, maintain compliance, and complete regular security upgrades is an ongoing challenge for many PHP teams. As the most trusted name in PHP, Zend is here to help.
For organizations seeking extended PHP security and support for their applications, we offer fully supported and secure PHP runtimes through ZendPHP. With ZendPHP – and the advanced observability tooling offered by the ZendHQ extension – you can rest easy with PHP LTS for EOL versions, maintained compliance, and 24/7/365 support.
Zend also offers a full suite of Professional Services. By partnering with Zend, you access an incomparable team of experts with decades of experience tackling the hardest problems in PHP. Stay secure on updated PHP versions with our Migration Support, unlock continuous performance monitoring through Admin as a Service, and much more.
Advanced PHP Security and Compliance Solutions
Zend delivers unparalleled PHP security and compliance solutions for enterprise-grade PHP applications. Stay secure with scheduled security patches, consultative guidance, and a full suite of professional services.