# Websites worldwide shut down after critical PHP flaws

> Critical PHP flaws force global websites offline as hackers exploit server vulnerabilities.
- Title: Websites worldwide shut down after critical PHP flaws
- Summary: Critical PHP flaws force global websites offline as hackers exploit server vulnerabilities. Critical PHP flaws exposed servers to hackers, causing global…
- Keywords: php, critical flaws, website shutdowns, hackers, server vulnerabilities, global websites, php foundation, national security agency, ai security, software vulnerabilities, news, world
- Source: Malay Mail — https://malaymail.com/news/tech-gadgets/2026/10/22/websites-worldwide-shut-down-after-critical-php-flaws-expose-servers-to-hackers/240093
- Published: 2026-10-22T09:03:14+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: php, critical flaws, website shutdowns, hackers, server vulnerabilities, global websites, php foundation, national security agency, ai security, software vulnerabilities, news, world
## Critical PHP flaws expose servers
Critical PHP flaws exposed servers to hackers, causing global website shutdowns before a fix could be deployed.

> Details leaked online Tuesday, a day before the planned release of the fix, prompting the rush to take sites offline before hackers could exploit them
## PHP powers 70% of websites
PHP runs about 70 percent of the world's websites, making it critical for global internet infrastructure.

> Wiz, one of the security firms that found the flaws, estimated that php runs about 70 percent of the world’s websites
## NSA urges immediate patching
The U.S. National Security Agency told organizations to patch systems immediately or take them offline.

> The us national security agency told organizations to patch immediately or pull vulnerable systems offline
## PHP Foundation warns of urgent update
The PHP Foundation said updating php is imperative to prevent server takeovers.

> If you run php, it is imperative that you update now
## AI models found critical flaws
Security firms used ai models to discover php flaws, marking a new phase in ai-driven vulnerability detection.

> Openai said on x that it considered the flaws one of the most impactful vulnerabilities in recent memory
## Global websites affected
Government websites in france, netherlands, and australia went offline as a precaution against the flaws.

> In france local government websites including one for the paris police were made inaccessible
## Pokemon apps temporarily offline
Several pokemon apps went offline for emergency maintenance to address php vulnerabilities.

> Several pokemon apps including pokemon home pokemon champions and pokemon sleep went offline wednesday for emergency maintenance
## Flaws could compromise server security
Attackers could take over web servers without passwords using the critical php flaws.

> The flaws often provide a direct path to the servers file system or database
## Fix released but details leaked
Details leaked online a day before the fix was released, prompting urgent website shutdowns.

> Details leaked online tuesday a day before the planned release of the fix prompting the rush to take sites offline before hackers could exploit them
## Key takeaway

Critical PHP flaws exposed servers to hackers, causing global website shutdowns before a fix could be deployed.