CVE-2010-4481: phpMyAdmin Remote Authentication Bypass Vulnerability
Summary
CVE-2010-4481: phpMyAdmin allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and obtain sensitive information. Affects phpmyadmin/phpmyadmin versions < 3.4.0-beta1. Fixed in 3.4.0-beta1. How to fix ↓
Also tracked for
- phpmyadmin · Debian:11
The same CVE-2010-4481 is tracked separately for each ecosystem and vendor. Its fix information is the same; the package and affected versions differ.
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
Background
phpMyAdmin is a widely-used open-source tool for managing MySQL databases through a web interface. It provides features such as database creation, modification, and administration, making it a popular choice among developers and database administrators. However, prior to version 3.4.0-beta1, phpMyAdmin was susceptible to a serious vulnerability that allowed remote attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4481 allows remote attackers to bypass authentication in phpMyAdmin versions before 3.4.0-beta1. This is achieved through a direct request to the phpinfo.php file, which invokes the phpinfo function. The exposure of sensitive information could lead to unauthorized access to the database and potentially compromise the integrity and confidentiality of the data stored within.
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
3.4.0-beta1
This is the first release that contains the fix.
composer require phpmyadmin/phpmyadmin:3.4.0-beta1Tip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, you can restrict access to the phpinfo.php file by modifying your web server configuration to deny requests to this file. For example, in an Apache server, you can add the following directive to your .htaccess file: <Files phpinfo.php> Order Allow,Deny Deny from all </Files>
Conclusion
In summary, CVE-2010-4481 is a critical vulnerability in phpMyAdmin that allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and access sensitive information. It is crucial to update to the latest version to mitigate this risk. Additionally, temporary workarounds can be implemented to enhance security until the update is applied.
See every vulnerability recorded for phpmyadmin/phpmyadmin →
FAQ
CVE-2010-4481 is a vulnerability in phpMyAdmin that allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and access sensitive information.
Versions of phpMyAdmin prior to 3.4.0-beta1 are affected by this vulnerability.
You can use Vulert's playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
If exploited, this vulnerability could allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive database information, potentially leading to data breaches.
Yes, you can restrict access to the phpinfo.php file as a temporary workaround until you can apply the necessary updates.
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for phpmyadmin/phpmyadmin.
