CVE-2016-5731: phpMyAdmin Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability
Summary
CVE-2016-5731: phpMyAdmin Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability. 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-2016-5731 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 inject arbitrary web script or HTML through vectors involving an OpenID error message.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in phpMyAdmin is a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability. It occurs in the 'examples/openid.php' file and can be exploited by remote attackers. By manipulating the OpenID error message, an attacker can inject malicious web script or HTML code into the application. This can lead to various security risks, such as stealing sensitive user information, performing unauthorized actions on behalf of the user, or spreading malware to other users.
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 phpMyAdmin is not immediately possible, a temporary workaround is to disable the affected 'examples/openid.php' file or restrict access to it. This can be done by modifying the web server configuration or using access control mechanisms. However, this is not a permanent solution, and upgrading to a patched version is strongly advised.
Conclusion
The phpMyAdmin XSS vulnerability is a significant security risk that can allow remote attackers to inject malicious code into the application. Upgrading to the latest patched version is the recommended solution to mitigate this vulnerability. For further support and assistance 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 for performing various database management tasks.
Cross-site scripting (XSS) is a type of security vulnerability that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. This can lead to various security risks, such as stealing sensitive information or performing unauthorized actions on behalf of the user.
The vulnerability can be exploited by remote attackers who can manipulate the OpenID error message to inject malicious web script or HTML code into the application.
The consequences of this vulnerability include the potential theft of sensitive user information, unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the user, and the spread of malware to other users.
To protect your phpMyAdmin installation, it is recommended to upgrade to the latest patched version (4.0.10.16, 4.4.15.7, or 4.6.3). Additionally, you should follow best practices for web application security, such as input validation and output encoding.
References
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for phpmyadmin/phpmyadmin.
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