Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability in phpMyAdmin: CVE-2016-9857
Summary
UBUNTU-CVE-2016-9857: 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 ↓
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
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 entries. 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 a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attack due to a flaw in its JavaScript processing.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-9857 arises from a weakness in a regular expression used in the JavaScript processing of phpMyAdmin. This flaw allows an attacker to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users, potentially leading to unauthorized actions or data exposure. All versions of phpMyAdmin prior to 4.6.5 (4.6.x), 4.4.15.9 (4.4.x), and 4.0.10.18 (4.0.x) are affected, making it crucial for users to update to patched versions to mitigate risks.
How To Fix
No fixed version is published for this vulnerability.
Tip — Not sure whether your app is affected? Vulert can check the versions your app actually runs. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, users can restrict access to phpMyAdmin by implementing IP whitelisting or using strong authentication methods to limit exposure to potential attacks until the package is updated.
Conclusion
CVE-2016-9857 is a significant vulnerability affecting multiple versions of phpMyAdmin, allowing for potential XSS attacks. Users are strongly advised to update their installations to the latest secure versions to protect against this threat. Implementing additional security measures can also help mitigate risks until updates are applied.
See every vulnerability recorded for phpmyadmin →
FAQ
CVE-2016-9857 is a vulnerability in phpMyAdmin that allows for Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks due to a flaw in its JavaScript processing.
All versions prior to 4.6.5 (4.6.x), 4.4.15.9 (4.4.x), and 4.0.10.18 (4.0.x) are vulnerable.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software. Visit Vulert Scanner to check your application without needing to sign up.
The CVSS score for CVE-2016-9857 is 6.1, indicating a medium level of severity.
If exploited, this vulnerability could allow attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of the user's session, leading to data theft, unauthorized actions, or other security breaches.
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for phpmyadmin.
