{
  "id": 15980632,
  "title": "Websites go dark as AI exposes critical security flaws",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/websites-go-dark-as-ai-exposes-critical-security-flaws",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-10-22T00:03:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "RTHK News - Finance",
    "slug": "rthk-news-finance",
    "url": "https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1874858-20261022.htm"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Websites worldwide went dark on Wednesday as two critical security flaws in PHP were exposed, potentially affecting a vast majority of websites. PHP, a programming language underlying many web platforms, runs on approximately 70 percent of internet sites. The flaws, identified by security firms Wiz and Calif, rank among the most severe vulnerabilities ever found in PHP, and arguably in software history. The US National Security Agency advised organizations to patch immediately or shut down vulnerable systems. Only websites running PHP on their own servers are at risk. Large platforms built on alternative languages or using operators that can quickly implement the fix remained online. The flaws often grant attackers direct access to a server's file system or database, enabling them to take over web servers without passwords. The discovery occurred during a surge in software security disclosures, driven by advanced AI models. PHP programmers released a fix on Wednesday, urging those using PHP to update immediately. The flaws had been privately reported to PHP's developers and kept confidential until a fix was ready. However, details leaked online, prompting a rush to take sites offline. Notable affected entities included French government websites, the Dutch national digital identity service, Australian cyber.gov.au, Wikipedia, and several Pokemon apps.",
  "summary": "Government agencies and companies around the world shut down websites on Wednesday after two critical flaws came to light involving PHP, a programming language that is the basis for a large share of the internet. PHP sits underneath popular web design platforms, so the weaknesses potentially affect a vast range of websites, from online stores and news outlets to government services. Wiz, one of…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 9,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Websites go dark worldwide as AI exposes critical security flaws",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/websites-go-dark-worldwide-as-ai-exposes-critical-security-flaws-15915458",
        "published": "2026-10-21T16:05:38.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Websites go dark worldwide as AI exposes critical security flaws",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/websites-go-dark-worldwide-as-ai-exposes-critical-security-flaws",
        "published": "2026-10-21T16:57:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Business Recorder",
        "title": "Websites go dark worldwide as AI exposes critical security flaws",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/websites-go-dark-worldwide-as-ai-exposes-critical-security-flaws-15918979",
        "published": "2026-10-21T16:59:55.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Le Monde English",
        "title": "Websites worldwide go dark as AI exposes security flaws",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/websites-worldwide-go-dark-as-ai-exposes-security-flaws",
        "published": "2026-10-21T17:07:54.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Newsweek",
        "title": "Critical PHP Flaws Threaten Millions of Websites in New AI Security Test",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/critical-php-flaws-threaten-millions-of-websites-in-new-ai-security",
        "published": "2026-10-21T19:03:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "SCMP Tech",
        "title": "Websites go dark worldwide as AI exposes critical security flaws",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/websites-go-dark-worldwide-as-ai-exposes-critical-security-flaws-15959136",
        "published": "2026-10-21T22:10:59.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Websites go dark as AI exposes critical security flaws",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/websites-go-dark-as-ai-exposes-critical-security-flaws",
        "published": "2026-10-21T23:21:59.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu - Sci-Tech",
        "title": "Websites go dark as AI exposes critical security flaws",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/websites-go-dark-as-ai-exposes-critical-security-flaws-15994989",
        "published": "2026-10-22T03:32:52.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}