Japan to simulate cyberattacks as PHP flaws roil global internet

Live updates

1. 1h ago

   Japan Plans AI Cyberattack Tests Amid PHP Flaws

   Japan announced plans to establish a team to simulate cyberattacks using artificial intelligence to locate weaknesses in technology systems. This decision follows the disclosure of critical vulnerabilities in the PHP programming language that disrupted online services and forced government and business websites worldwide to go offline. Organizations are currently scrambling to mitigate risks as hacking attempts rise. Cybersecurity experts note that artificial intelligence aids cybercrime by making attacks faster, cheaper, and harder to detect through task automation.

   Why it matters

   Critical remote code execution vulnerabilities identified as PHP2Shell affect a vast share of the internet and have caused widespread outages. Amazon Threat Intelligence identified exploitation of these flaws in MadPot prior to public disclosure. Japan's planned AI simulations represent an effort by governments to counter threats stemming from the programming language that underpins much of the internet.

   What is confirmed

   • Japan announced on Friday that it will set up a team to simulate cyberattacks using artificial intelligence to identify weaknesses in technology systems.
   • Government and company websites across the world went offline following the disclosure of critical vulnerabilities in the PHP programming language.
   • Cybersecurity experts say artificial intelligence makes cybercrime faster, cheaper, and harder to detect through task automation.
   • Amazon Threat Intelligence identified PHP2Shell exploitation prior to public disclosure in MadPot.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Critical RCE vulnerabilities in PHP affect 70 percent of the internet.

   What to watch next

   • Deployment and operational details of Japan's new AI cyberattack simulation team.
   • Further reports on the scope of PHP2Shell exploitation across global networks and infrastructure.
   Sources used for this update (16)

   1. wiz.io — PHP2Shell: AI uncovers critical RCE vulnerabilities affecting 70% of the Internet
   2. Amazon Web Services — Amazon Threat Intelligence identifies PHP2Shell exploitation prior to public disclosure in MadPot
   3. The New York Times — What Is PHP? Why Are Government and Business Websites Going Offline?
   4. CNN — AI finds cybersecurity issue affecting 70% of the internet, forcing websites to shut down
   5. AP News — What to know about the AI-detected security bug impacting wide swaths of the internet
   6. The Atlantic — The Man Who Saved the Internet Yesterday
   7. Reuters — Japan to simulate cyberattacks as PHP flaws roil global internet
   8. NPR — Hacking attempts rise after flaws found in program affecting 70 percent of websites
   9. tribune.com.pk — Japan to simulate cyberattacks as PHP flaws roil global internet
   10. www.channelnewsasia.com — Japan to simulate cyberattacks as PHP flaws roil global internet - CNA
   11. bworldonline.com — Japan to simulate cyberattacks as PHP flaws roil global internet - BusinessWorld Online
   12. www.thestandard.com.hk — Japan to simulate cyberattacks as PHP flaws roil global internet - The Standard
   confidence 95%