CVE-2016-5706: phpMyAdmin Denial Of Service (DOS) attack
Summary
CVE-2016-5706: phpMyAdmin Denial Of Service (DOS) attack. Affects phpmyadmin/phpmyadmin across 3 version ranges.
>= 4.0, < 4.0.10.16
>= 4.4, < 4.4.15.7
>= 4.6, < 4.6.3
Fixed in 4.0.10.16, 4.4.15.7 or 4.6.3, depending on the release line you run. How to fix ↓
Also tracked for
- phpmyadmin · Debian:11
The same CVE-2016-5706 is tracked separately for each ecosystem and vendor. Its fix information is the same; the package and affected versions differ.
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Background
phpMyAdmin is a popular open-source administration tool for managing MySQL databases. It provides a web-based interface that allows users to perform various database management tasks. This vulnerability affects 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 of phpMyAdmin. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (DOS) by exploiting a flaw in the 'js/get_scripts.js.php' script. By sending a large array in the 'scripts' parameter, an attacker can overwhelm the server and disrupt its normal operation.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in phpMyAdmin arises from insufficient input validation in the 'js/get_scripts.js.php' script. When a large array is passed in the 'scripts' parameter, the server's resources are consumed, leading to a denial of service. This can result in the unavailability of the phpMyAdmin interface, affecting the ability to manage MySQL databases. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 7.5, indicating a high severity level.
How To Fix
Fixed versions by release line
The minimum fixed version depends on the release line you run.
-
>= 4.0, < 4.0.10.164.0.10.16composer require phpmyadmin/phpmyadmin:4.0.10.16 -
>= 4.4, < 4.4.15.74.4.15.7composer require phpmyadmin/phpmyadmin:4.4.15.7 -
>= 4.6, < 4.6.34.6.3composer require phpmyadmin/phpmyadmin:4.6.3
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Workaround
If upgrading to the patched versions is not immediately feasible, a temporary workaround is to restrict access to the 'js/get_scripts.js.php' script. This can be done by configuring the web server to deny requests to this specific script. By blocking access to the vulnerable script, the risk of exploitation can be mitigated.
Conclusion
The phpMyAdmin Denial Of Service (DOS) vulnerability (CVE-2016-5706) can be mitigated by upgrading to the patched versions of phpMyAdmin. It is important to promptly apply these updates to ensure the security and availability of the phpMyAdmin interface. If immediate upgrading is not possible, implementing the workaround of restricting access to the vulnerable script can provide temporary protection. For further assistance and support in vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
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FAQ
phpMyAdmin is an open-source administration tool for managing MySQL databases. It provides a web-based interface that allows users to perform various database management tasks.
The vulnerability allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (DOS) by overwhelming the server with a large array in the 'scripts' parameter. This can result in the unavailability of the phpMyAdmin interface, affecting the ability to manage MySQL databases.
To fix this vulnerability, it is recommended to upgrade to the patched versions of phpMyAdmin. Users of version 4.0.x should upgrade to version 4.0.10.16 or later. Users of version 4.4.x should upgrade to version 4.4.15.7 or later. Users of version 4.6.x should upgrade to version 4.6.3 or later.
Yes, a temporary workaround is to restrict access to the 'js/get_scripts.js.php' script. By configuring the web server to deny requests to this specific script, the risk of exploitation can be mitigated.
The CVSS score of this vulnerability is 7.5, indicating a high severity level.
References
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