CSRF Vulnerability in phpMyAdmin 4.0.x - 4.4.x Leading to Configuration Hijacking
Summary
UBUNTU-CVE-2015-3902: Multiple cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerabilities in the setup process in phpMyAdmin 4.0.x before 4.0.10.10, 4.2.x before 4.2.13.3, 4.3.x before 4.3.13.1, and 4.4.x before 4.4.6.1 allow remote attackers to hijac... Affects phpmyadmin versions 4:4.0.10-1 – 4:4.0.9-1. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
phpMyAdmin is a widely-used open-source tool written in PHP, designed to handle the administration of MySQL databases through a web interface. It allows users to perform various database operations such as creating, modifying, and deleting databases, tables, and rows. The tool is popular among developers and database administrators for its ease of use and extensive features. However, certain versions of phpMyAdmin are vulnerable to cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attacks, which can compromise the security of the application and its users.
Vulnerability Detail
Multiple cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerabilities exist in the setup process of phpMyAdmin versions 4.0.x before 4.0.10.10, 4.2.x before 4.2.13.3, 4.3.x before 4.3.13.1, and 4.4.x before 4.4.6.1. These vulnerabilities allow remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that modify the configuration file. This can lead to unauthorized changes in the database configuration, potentially exposing sensitive data or allowing further exploitation of the system.
How To Fix
No fixed version is published for this vulnerability.
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Workaround
As a temporary workaround, users can implement CSRF tokens in their forms to mitigate the risk of CSRF attacks. This involves generating a unique token for each session and validating it upon form submission. However, this is not a substitute for updating to a secure version.
Conclusion
The CSRF vulnerability in phpMyAdmin versions 4.0.x through 4.4.x poses a significant risk to database security. It is crucial for users to update their installations to the latest patched versions to safeguard against potential attacks. Implementing additional security measures, such as CSRF tokens, can provide further protection.
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FAQ
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) is a type of attack that tricks the victim into submitting a request that they did not intend to make, potentially leading to unauthorized actions.
You can check your phpMyAdmin version and compare it against the vulnerable versions listed. Additionally, you can use tools like Vulert to monitor and alert for vulnerabilities.
If exploited, this vulnerability can allow attackers to hijack administrative sessions, modify database configurations, and potentially expose sensitive data.
While the best solution is to update to a patched version, implementing CSRF tokens can provide a temporary mitigation.
Detailed information can be found in the official security notices and vulnerability databases, such as the one provided by Canonical.
References
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