Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability in phpMyAdmin: A Security Concern
Summary
CVE-2011-1940: phpMyAdmin Vulnerable to Cross-Site Scripting. Affects phpmyadmin/phpmyadmin across 2 version ranges.
>= 3.3.0, < 3.3.10.1
>= 3.4.0, < 3.4.1
Fixed in 3.3.10.1 or 3.4.1, depending on the release line you run. How to fix ↓
Also tracked for
- phpmyadmin · Debian:11
The same CVE-2011-1940 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 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, versions 3.3.x before 3.3.10.1 and 3.4.x before 3.4.1 are vulnerable to multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks, which can compromise the security of applications relying on this software.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability arises from improper HTML rendering on the Tracking page, allowing remote attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML via crafted table names. This can lead to unauthorized actions being performed on behalf of users, data theft, or other malicious activities. The affected files include libraries/tbl_links.inc.php and tbl_tracking.php, which are integral to the functionality of phpMyAdmin.
How To Fix
Fixed versions by release line
The minimum fixed version depends on the release line you run.
-
>= 3.3.0, < 3.3.10.13.3.10.1composer require phpmyadmin/phpmyadmin:3.3.10.1 -
>= 3.4.0, < 3.4.13.4.1composer require phpmyadmin/phpmyadmin:3.4.1
Tip — Not sure which release line you're on? Vulert can find the fix for the version you are using. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary measure, users can sanitize input for table names to prevent XSS attacks. This can be done by implementing a validation function that escapes HTML characters in user inputs. For example, use PHP's htmlspecialchars function: `
htmlspecialchars($table_name, ENT_QUOTES, 'UTF-8');
`.
Conclusion
The cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in phpMyAdmin versions 3.3.x before 3.3.10.1 and 3.4.x before 3.4.1 pose significant security risks. It is crucial for users to update to the latest patched versions to mitigate these risks. Additionally, implementing input sanitization can serve as a temporary workaround while ensuring that applications remain secure.
See every vulnerability recorded for phpmyadmin/phpmyadmin →
FAQ
XSS is a security vulnerability that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users, potentially compromising their data and session.
Check the version of phpMyAdmin you are using. If it is 3.3.x before 3.3.10.1 or 3.4.x before 3.4.1, it is vulnerable. You can also use Vulert to monitor your application for vulnerabilities.
The risks include unauthorized access to user sessions, data theft, and the potential for attackers to perform actions on behalf of users, leading to data corruption or loss.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using just the composer.lock file.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring a signup.
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