Alex found it. A dormant eval() that would have triggered if the license file expired and the server date was after 2025. The CEO had refused to pay for maintenance. Marcus had planned a kill switch.
As of PHP 8.1, IonCube's encoding and decoding mechanisms have undergone significant changes. The IonCube Loader version 10.4.0 or higher is required for PHP 8.1 compatibility. When choosing an IonCube decoder for PHP 8.1, ensure that it supports the latest IonCube Loader version. ioncube decoder php 8.1
IonCube Decoder PHP 8.1 is a tool or software that can decode IonCube encoded PHP files, making them compatible with PHP 8.1. The decoder works by reversing the encoding process, converting the IonCube bytecode back into readable PHP code. This allows developers to access and modify their encoded PHP files, even if they are not compatible with the latest PHP versions. Alex found it
If you have files that require ionCube to run, follow these steps to set up the environment: Marcus had planned a kill switch