If you follow online security news, you likely heard about major security bugs in PHP. News outlets and security firms are warning businesses to update their servers immediately.

If you run an online store, this raises an urgent question: Is my Shopify / BigCommerce store safe from PHP risks?

The short answer is yes. Core Shopify and BigCommerce stores are protected from these direct server attacks. Because Shopify and BigCommerce are hosted Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platforms, you do not have to worry about updating underlying server software yourself.

However, there are still a few hidden places in your e-commerce setup where PHP vulnerabilities could sneak in.

At Trepoly we are ecommerce website development experts, and here is a plain-English guide on how Shopify and BigCommerce protect your business, why SaaS gives you a massive security edge, and the exact steps you should take today to keep your store 100% safe.

Listen to Our Blogcast:

Key Takeaways:

  • You Do Not Need to Panic About Your Core Store: Shopify and BigCommerce handle platform security so you can focus on selling.

  • Your Hidden Risk Lies Outside of Your SaaS: While your main storefront is completely safe, external connections, like custom PHP scripts, private app servers, or a separate WordPress blog, still require manual security patches.

  • Stress-Free Security With a Managed Team: Having an e-commerce managed plan by Trepoly helps you address these updates easily, giving you expert developers who monitor, audit, and patch your external code and API connections so your entire store ecosystem stays secure.

What Is the PHP Threat and Why Is Everyone Talking About It?

PHP is a popular programming language that powers a massive chunk of the internet. It runs popular website builders like WordPress and open-source shopping carts like WooCommerce and Magento.

Security researchers recently discovered critical flaws in PHP. These bugs allow bad actors to run harmful code on vulnerable web servers without needing a password. Security agencies rated these flaws as highly critical and urged store owners to patch their systems right away.

For self-hosted online stores, this news triggered a firestorm. Store owners had to drop everything, hire developers, update server software, and test their sites to prevent getting hacked.

For eCommerce merchants using hosted platforms like BigCommerce or Shopify, the story is very different.

Is My SaaS eCommerce Store at Risk of PHP Vulnerabilities?

Your core Shopify/BigCommerce store is not directly vulnerable to these server-level PHP attacks.

When you build a storefront on Shopify or BigCommerce, you are using a fully managed SaaS platform. You do not manage raw web servers, database software, or PHP installations.

Shopify and BigCommerce shield your store from PHP risks in two key ways:

1. Automatic Platform-Level Protection

Shopify and BigCommerce use a modern, cloud-based setup. While parts of BigCommerce’s backend services use PHP, their team of security engineers monitors and updates those systems automatically. They apply security patches in the background through automated deployment pipelines. You never have to lift a finger or take your store offline for routine maintenance. Shopify on the other hand doesn’t even use PHP in their backend services at all.

2. Built-In Architectural Shielding

SaaS storefronts do not run user-uploaded PHP files. On BigCommerce, front-end themes run on Stencil, BigCommerce’s theme engine built with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Handlebars.js. On Shopify front-end themes run on Liquid, Shopify’s templating engine built with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and JSON.

Because public site visitors cannot trigger raw PHP scripts on your storefront, the attack paths used in PHP hacks simply do not exist on your main website. On top of that, Shopify and BigCommerce route public traffic through enterprise web application firewalls (WAFs) to block malicious traffic before it ever touches backend services.

How Do I Update PHP in My Shopify or BigCommerce Store?

Merchants often ask: “How do I update PHP in my Shopify/BigCommerce store?” or “Where is the setting for Shopify/BigCommerce PHP updates?”

The simple answer is: You don’t, because you don’t have to.

There is no button in your Shopify or BigCommerce control panel to update PHP, and you cannot log into a server via FTP to edit PHP files. These platforms manage all backend language updates for you.

When security updates drop for PHP (such as patches for PHP 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, or 8.5), Shopify and BigCommerce’s security team tests and deploys those updates across their global cloud infrastructure automatically.

This is one of the biggest financial and operational advantages of SaaS e-commerce over self-hosted options.

The Hidden Risk: Where Your Shopify / BigCommerce Ecosystem Could Be Exposed

While your main Shopify or BigCommerce store is safe, your overall business ecosystem might still touch PHP.

Many growing e-commerce brands connect their eCommerce platforms to external servers or tools. If those external systems use PHP, they could still be exposed to security threats.

Now Trepoly has advised all of its clients to review their tech stacks and identify any potential integrations that may require manual updates. For clients under our eCommerce Management services, we are assisting on running those reviews and applying those updates for them.

Check these two areas immediately:

1. Custom Integrations & Middleware

Do you have custom code hosted on your own web server (like AWS, DigitalOcean, or cPanel) that talks to Shopify or BigCommerce?

  • Examples include custom scripts syncing orders to a legacy warehouse, an ERP, or a CRM.

  • If those custom scripts run on PHP, your private server must be updated immediately.

2. Headless Web Frontends & Blogs

Do you run a WordPress blog alongside your eCommerce store on a custom subdomain (like blog.yourstore.com)? Or do you use a headless setup where WordPress powers the front end and your eCommerce platform powers the checkout?

  • WordPress runs entirely on PHP.

  • If your WordPress blog or headless site sits on a self-hosted server, that server is vulnerable until your hosting provider or technical team updates PHP.

Action Plan for Merchants: 3 Steps to Ensure Total Security

Even though Shopify and BigCommerce handle the heavy lifting, proactive store management is always smart. Here is your quick 3-step action checklist:

  1. Audit External Code: List every server or web host your business owns outside of Shopify or BigCommerce. If any of them host custom PHP code or WordPress, make sure PHP is updated to the latest patched version.

  2. Contact Custom App Vendors: If you rely on private or custom-built Shopify and BigCommerce apps hosted by third-party developers, send them a quick note asking if their app servers have been patched for recent PHP security releases.

  3. Keep an Eye on Shopify / BigCommerce Updates: Follow official announcements on the Shopify and BigCommerce Trust Centers. SaaS platforms publish updates regarding platform security, compliance, and third-party app advisories.

SaaS vs. Self-Hosted: The True Value of Managed Security

Security alerts like this serve as a great reminder of why thousands of brands move from Magento or WooCommerce to hosted platforms such as Shopify and BigCommerce.

On a self-hosted platform, security alerts mean high emergency developer fees, potential site downtime, and the constant stress of missing a patch.

On hosted SaaS ecommerce platforms like Shopify or BigCommerce, security is built in. You get enterprise-grade security, automated server patches, PCI compliance, and reliable uptime, allowing you to keep your focus on growing your revenue.

Would you like help auditing your custom Shopify or BigCommerce API integrations, headless setups, or external servers to ensure your store ecosystem is completely safe?

Let’s get you protected.

CONTACT US TODAY

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I need to manually install any security patches or updates on my SaaS Shopify / BigCommerce store?

No. Because Shopify and BigCommerce are fully managed SaaS platforms, you do not need to install patches, update PHP runtimes, or perform manual server maintenance for your main store. Shopify and BigCommerce’s internal security operations team handles all platform-level updates and security patches automatically behind the scenes.

2. Can custom Shopify / BigCommerce apps or third-party integrations expose my store to PHP risks?

Yes, if those apps or integrations are hosted on external PHP servers. While the Shopify / BigCommerce core platform is safe, any custom middleware, ERP/CRM connection scripts, or private apps hosted on your own web servers (like AWS, cPanel, or DigitalOcean) or managed by third-party vendors must be patched individually if they run on PHP.

3. How does Shopify / BigCommerce’s security compare to self-hosted platforms like WooCommerce or Magento during a major security alert?

On self-hosted platforms (WooCommerce, Magento, Adobe Commerce), merchants and their developers are personally responsible for testing, applying server-level PHP patches, and fixing broken code. On Shopify and BigCommerce, server security, PCI-DSS compliance, and core runtime updates are completely offloaded to Shopify and BigCommerce, saving you time, developer costs, and emergency downtime.