We tested this issue on many platforms and in all cases there was reset of apache. Example error.log on Apache/1.3.34 (Win32) PHP/4.4.1 Windows XP : ----------------------- [Fri Apr 14 17:17:17 2006] [info] master_main: Child processed exited prematurely. Restarting the child process. [Fri Apr 14 17:17:17 2006] [info] Parent: Created child process 4092 [Fri Apr 14 17:17:17 2006] [info] Parent: Duplicating socket 1916 and sending it to child process 4092 [Fri Apr 14 17:17:17 2006] [info] BytesRead = 372 WSAProtocolInfo = 2006620 ----------------------- Before public this advisory we contacted to PHP Team . Here is the respond about this issue : --------------------- As far recursive functions go, that is a well known issue in PHP, for which there is no solution at the present time. Ilia --------------------- The problem exist and undoubtedly it should not to be. If you have some doubts in relation to this issue, please first write to SecurityReason.