PHP security flaws take websites offline across Europe as operators race to patch

Summary

Security flaws in PHP, the widely used programming language, have taken websites offline across Europe and elsewhere, with government sites among those affected. Euronews reports that AI models uncovered what OpenAI calls "one of the most impactful" security bugs in recent memory, hidden in PHP for more than a decade, and that sites ranging from a Pokémon sleep tracker to the Dutch parliament's website went dark as operators moved to stay ahead of hackers. Hindustan Times reports that AI-powered hackers are exploiting the PHP2Shell flaws as Europe takes government websites offline, prompting urgent security patches and warnings from the NSA about cyberattack risks.

Timeline

1. Euronews

   22 Oct 2026, 12:06 UTCSource ↗

   Euronews reports that AI models uncovered what OpenAI calls "one of the most impactful" security bugs in recent memory, hidden in PHP for more than a decade, and that websites worldwide went dark, from a Pokémon sleep tracker to the Dutch parliament, while operators moved to stay ahead of hackers.

2. Hindustan Times

   22 Oct 2026, 14:57 UTCSource ↗

   Hindustan Times reports that AI-powered hackers are exploiting PHP2Shell flaws as Europe takes government websites offline, prompting urgent security patches and an NSA warning about cyberattack risks.