CVE-2016-5739: phpMyAdmin Cross-Site Request Forgery Vulnerability
Summary
CVE-2016-5739: phpMyAdmin vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery. Affects phpmyadmin/phpmyadmin across 3 version ranges.
>= 4.0.10.0, < 4.0.10.16
>= 4.4.15.0, < 4.4.15.7
>= 4.6.0, < 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-2016-5739 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 allows users to perform various database operations, such as creating, modifying, and deleting databases and tables, executing SQL queries, and managing user privileges. The tool is popular among developers and database administrators for its ease of use and extensive feature set. However, certain versions of phpMyAdmin are vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attacks, which can compromise user authentication and lead to unauthorized actions.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability arises from the Transformation implementation 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 versions do not utilize the no-referrer Content Security Policy (CSP) protection mechanism, making it easier for remote attackers to conduct CSRF attacks. By exploiting this vulnerability, attackers can read authentication tokens from the Referer header, potentially allowing them to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of the user.
How To Fix
Fixed versions by release line
The minimum fixed version depends on the release line you run.
-
>= 4.0.10.0, < 4.0.10.164.0.10.16composer require phpmyadmin/phpmyadmin:4.0.10.16 -
>= 4.4.15.0, < 4.4.15.74.4.15.7composer require phpmyadmin/phpmyadmin:4.4.15.7 -
>= 4.6.0, < 4.6.34.6.3composer require phpmyadmin/phpmyadmin:4.6.3
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Workaround
As a temporary workaround, users can implement additional security measures such as validating the Referer header on sensitive actions or using CSRF tokens in forms to mitigate the risk of CSRF attacks until the software is updated.
Conclusion
The vulnerability CVE-2016-5739 in phpMyAdmin exposes users to potential CSRF attacks due to the lack of proper CSP protection in certain versions. It is crucial for users to update their installations to the latest patched versions to safeguard against these attacks. Additionally, implementing workarounds can provide temporary relief until an update can be applied.
See every vulnerability recorded for phpmyadmin/phpmyadmin →
FAQ
CSRF is a type of attack that tricks the victim into submitting a malicious request, allowing attackers to perform actions on behalf of the user without their consent.
The affected versions are 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.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. You can check your application against this vulnerability using the Vulert playground without any signup.
The CVSS score of this vulnerability is 7.5, indicating a high severity level.
If immediate updates are not possible, consider implementing workarounds such as validating the Referer header or using CSRF tokens to mitigate risks.
References
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