PHP Technology & Version Detection Scanner

PHP is a widely-used open-source server-side scripting language especially suited for web development. It powers millions of websites and web applications, particularly in generating dynamic content. PHP is integral to popular content management systems such as WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal, and is frequently used in e-commerce, forums, and social media platforms.

This scanner not only detects the presence of PHP on digital assets but also extracts version information when available. Recognizing the PHP version in use is vital for identifying outdated or vulnerable installations that may pose security risks. Version-aware detection enables security teams to correlate findings with known vulnerabilities (e.g., CVEs) linked to specific PHP releases.

The detection is performed by inspecting HTTP response headers for PHP indicators, including 'X-Powered-By' and 'Server' headers that contain PHP version information. Through pattern matching and regular expressions, the scanner retrieves precise PHP version strings where available. This lightweight and efficient technique supports broad-scale technology fingerprinting during security assessments.

Failure to monitor PHP usage and versions can lead to critical exposure. Older PHP versions are often vulnerable to remote code execution, SQL injection, and cross-site scripting (XSS). Attackers may leverage these to compromise servers, steal data, or pivot further into networks. Identifying and addressing PHP instances is essential for maintaining a secure application stack.