Science & Technology · 9 Proficient · October 25, 2026

AI Uncovers Hidden Flaws in Software Powering Most Websites

Photo: Wikimedia Commons via Wikimedia Commons

Vocabulary

vulnerabilities /ˌvʌlnərəˈbɪlɪtiz/ noun

weaknesses or flaws that can be exploited to cause harm

The cybersecurity team worked to patch vulnerabilities before hackers could find them.

underpins /ʌnˈdɜrpɪnz/ verb

supports or forms the basis of something important

A reliable internet infrastructure underpins modern business and communication.

dormant /ˈdɔrmənt/ adjective

present but inactive or not causing problems

The security flaws remained dormant for years until researchers discovered them.

Article

For over a decade, serious vulnerabilities lay dormant in PHP, a server-side programming language that underpins roughly 70 percent of websites worldwide. Artificial intelligence recently surfaced these flaws, triggering an urgent global response from governments and cybersecurity agencies. PHP, which stands for PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor, was developed in the early 1990s to serve dynamic web pages and remains essential infrastructure for platforms including Wikipedia, WordPress, and countless online shops. Most internet users interact with PHP daily without knowing it exists.

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