ICANN - Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers

10/21/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/21/2026 04:22

ICANN Reacts to Widespread Software Vulnerability

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) responded to a recently disclosed vulnerability in PHP affecting the underlying software that powers many websites.

There is no indication that any of ICANN's systems have been negatively affected. This includes the New gTLD Program Application Publication and Statistics (APS) website and the TLD Application Management System (TAMS), which are not based on PHP and remain available. In the interim, the Applicant Guidebook for the New gTLD Program: 2026 Round can be accessed via the ICANN.org homepage at https://itp.cdn.icann.org/en/files/new-generic-top-level-domain-gtld-program/new-gtld-program-2026-round-applicant-guidebook-current-en-07-10-2026-en.pdf.

Out of an abundance of caution, three ICANN administrative sites that run on PHP software have been temporarily disabled, including the Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) website, (https://gnso.icann.org/en), the New gTLD Program: 2026 Round website (https://newgtldprogram.icann.org/en/application-rounds/round2, and New gTLD Program: 2012 Round website (https://newgtlds.icann.org/en).

Emergency patches from the PHP Foundation are expected soon, and will be implemented upon availability. The ICANN sites will be restored once the necessary security measures have been implemented.

About ICANN

ICANN's mission is to help ensure a stable, secure, and unified global Internet. To reach another person on the Internet, you need to type an address - a name or a number - into your computer or other device. That address must be unique so computers know where to find each other. ICANN helps coordinate and support these unique identifiers across the world. ICANN was formed in 1998 as a nonprofit public benefit corporation with a community of participants from all over the world.
ICANN - Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers published this content on October 21, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 21, 2026 at 10:22 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]