(LEAD) S. Korea raises cybersecurity alert level as PHP flaw sparks global security concerns

What happened: South Korea's science ministry raised the country's cyber crisis warning level to "caution" and asked companies and government agencies to patch systems affected by two critical PHP flaws. Key numbers: Warning level raised to "caution," the second lowest in a four-tier system, as of noon on Thursday, Oct. 22. Why it matters: The ministry said exploit codes are already publicly available, and the flaws could let attackers control affected web servers without authentication. The presidential National Security Office held an emergency meeting to coordinate the response.

South Korea's science ministry raised the country's cyber crisis warning level to "caution" and asked companies and government agencies to patch systems affected by two critical PHP flaws.

The ministry said exploit codes are already publicly available, and the flaws could let attackers control affected web servers without authentication. The presidential National Security Office held an emergency meeting to coordinate the response.