Username Matching Vulnerability in phpMyAdmin: CVE-2016-9850
Summary
UBUNTU-CVE-2016-9850: An issue was discovered in phpMyAdmin. 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 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. The tool is popular among developers and database administrators due to its user-friendly interface and extensive features. However, certain versions of phpMyAdmin are vulnerable to a security issue that affects username matching for allow/deny rules, potentially leading to unauthorized access.
Vulnerability Detail
An issue was discovered in phpMyAdmin where the username matching for the allow/deny rules may result in incorrect matches due to non-constant execution time. This vulnerability can lead to unauthorized users gaining access to restricted areas of the application. All versions of phpMyAdmin 4.6.x prior to 4.6.5, 4.4.x prior to 4.4.15.9, and 4.0.x prior to 4.0.10.18 are affected. The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 5.3, indicating a medium severity level.
How To Fix
No fixed version is published for this vulnerability.
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Workaround
As a temporary workaround, users can implement stricter username rules or limit access to the phpMyAdmin interface by configuring firewall rules to restrict access to trusted IP addresses only.
Conclusion
The vulnerability CVE-2016-9850 in phpMyAdmin poses a risk of unauthorized access due to improper username matching. It is crucial for users to update to the latest patched versions of phpMyAdmin to mitigate this risk. Implementing temporary workarounds can help secure the application until an update can be performed.
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FAQ
CVE-2016-9850 is a vulnerability in phpMyAdmin that affects username matching for allow/deny rules, potentially allowing unauthorized access.
Affected versions include all 4.6.x versions prior to 4.6.5, 4.4.x versions prior to 4.4.15.9, and 4.0.x versions prior to 4.0.10.18.
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If immediate updates are not possible, consider implementing stricter username rules and limiting access to trusted IP addresses as a temporary workaround.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 5.3, indicating a medium severity level.
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