Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerabilities in phpMyAdmin: CVE-2016-5733
Summary
CVE-2016-5733: Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in phpMyAdmin 4.0.x before 4.0.10.16, 4.4.x before 4.4.15.7, and 4.6.x before 4.6.3 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors involving... Affects phpmyadmin across 9 version ranges.
< 4:4.6.3-1
< 4d21b5c077db50c2a54b7f569d20f463cc2651f5
< 895a131d2eb7e447757a35d5731c7d647823ea8b
< 960fd1fd52023047a23d069178bfff7463c2cefc
< 615212a14d7d87712202f37354acf8581987fc5a
< 8716855b309dbe65d7b9a5d681b80579b225b322
< 79661610f6f65443e0ec1e382a7240437f28436c
< be3ecbb4cca3fbe20e3b3aa4e049902d18b60865
< d648ade18d6cbb796a93261491c121f078df2d88
Fixed in 4:4.6.3-1. How to fix ↓
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Background
phpMyAdmin is a widely used open-source tool for managing MySQL databases through a web interface. It allows users to perform various database operations, such as creating, modifying, and deleting databases and tables, executing SQL queries, and managing user privileges. Despite its popularity, phpMyAdmin has been susceptible to security vulnerabilities, including cross-site scripting (XSS) issues, which can compromise user data and application integrity.
Vulnerability Detail
CVE-2016-5733 encompasses multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in phpMyAdmin versions 4.0.x before 4.0.10.16, 4.4.x before 4.4.15.7, and 4.6.x before 4.6.3. These vulnerabilities allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML into the application. The origins of these vulnerabilities stem from mishandling user input in various components, such as privilege checking, AJAX error handling, and chart implementations. The ramifications can include unauthorized access to user sessions, data manipulation, and potential defacement of the web application.
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
4:4.6.3-1
This is the first release that contains the fix.
sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade phpmyadminTip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
If immediate upgrading is not feasible, consider implementing input validation and sanitization measures to mitigate the risk of XSS attacks. Additionally, restrict access to phpMyAdmin to trusted IP addresses and enforce strong authentication mechanisms.
Conclusion
CVE-2016-5733 highlights critical XSS vulnerabilities in phpMyAdmin that can lead to severe security breaches. Users are strongly advised to upgrade to the latest version to protect their applications. Implementing security best practices can further mitigate risks associated with this vulnerability.
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FAQ
CVE-2016-5733 is a designation for multiple cross-site scripting vulnerabilities found in specific versions of phpMyAdmin, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
The impacts include unauthorized access to user sessions, data manipulation, and potential defacement of the web application, leading to compromised data integrity.
Yes, implementing input validation and sanitization, restricting access to trusted IPs, and enforcing strong authentication can help mitigate risks.
The CVSS score for CVE-2016-5733 is 6.1, indicating a medium severity level.
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