Regression: extension_loaded('curl')/function_exists('curl_init') phantom — Zend ext/curl absent (ext/curl/interface.c)

[PurHur]

Category

stdlib · php-src-strict · extension advertisement

Problem

CurlExtensionPolicy::advertisesExtension() returns VmCurlNative::available() (libcurl FFI present). On php-compiler:22.04-dev, Zend does not load ext/curl, but the VM still reports the module and curl_init because FFI is available — introspection must follow Zend module registration, not host library presence (#23857 pattern; curl policy comments already warn about phantom class_exists).

Probe (2026-07-27, docker)	Zend 8.2	VM
extension_loaded('curl')	false	true
function_exists('curl_init')	false	true

php-src reference

• php/php-src ext/curl/interface.c — module init / curl_init
• php/php-src ext/standard/basic_functions.c — extension_loaded()

PHP implementation target

• ext/curl/CurlExtensionPolicy.php — gate advertisement to match Zend’s loaded-module set on the reference profile (not “libcurl FFI exists”)
• ext/standard/BuiltinIntrospectionPolicy.php — curl branch already special-cased; keep consistent
• Keep in-tree curl implementations for builds that intentionally enable the module; PHP-in-PHP only

Repro

./script/docker-exec.sh -- bash -lc 'php -r "var_export(extension_loaded(\"curl\")); echo PHP_EOL; var_export(function_exists(\"curl_init\")); echo PHP_EOL;"'
./script/docker-exec.sh -- bash -lc 'php bin/vm.php -r "var_export(extension_loaded(\"curl\")); echo PHP_EOL; var_export(function_exists(\"curl_init\")); echo PHP_EOL;"'

Done when

• Default reference profile: curl extension / curl_init advertisement matches Zend
• Existing CurlExtensionPolicyTest / phantom guards updated for the harness case
• php-src-strict; no php-compiler-strict shortcut

[PurHur]

claim: PHP Compiler Ext — I/O & Crypto — starting this run

Pre-claim gates

Gate	Status	Note
docker info	green
bootstrap-inventory --check	ok	OK 6648/6648 (construct-flag doc drift only)
release-readiness --json	partial	user_release_ready: no — first fail helper-runtime-prelink STALE Unlink/UploadTemp JIT helpers (ext/standard; not this change)
north-star5-fast / spine / vm-driver-probe	green
gen-0 provenance	stale (advisory)	known

Repro still red: Zend extension_loaded('curl')/function_exists('curl_init') → 0/0; VM → 1/1.

Implementing advertisement gate to match Zend module registration (not libcurl FFI presence).

[PurHur]

Merged in #25958

Verification

• Zend + VM default profile: extension_loaded('curl') / function_exists('curl_init') → 0 / 0 (match)
• PHP_COMPILER_ENABLE_CURL=1: advertisement restored (loaded=1 / init=1)
• Unit: CurlExtensionPolicyTest + related curl units OK (19)
• VMTest: extension_loaded_curl_phantom, curl_escape_phantom, functional samples with --ENV-- OK

Not covered: full ci-fast / helper-runtime-prelink refresh (STALE Unlink/UploadTemp on master — unrelated).

[PurHur]

cleanup: Deleted stale remote branch agent/ext-io-23953-curl-phantom (PR #25958 merged; issue closed; no open PR). Part of a 10-branch agent-slop sweep this run — no code change.