CSRF Vulnerability in phpMyAdmin: A Security Risk for Database Management
Summary
UBUNTU-CVE-2019-12616: An issue was discovered in phpMyAdmin before 4.9.0. Affects phpmyadmin versions < 4:4.0.10-1ubuntu0.1+esm1. Fixed in 4:4.0.10-1ubuntu0.1+esm1. 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 that allows users to manage MySQL databases through a web interface. It provides functionalities such as database creation, modification, and administration, making it a popular choice among developers and database administrators. However, vulnerabilities in phpMyAdmin can expose users to security risks, particularly when it comes to Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attacks, which can compromise database integrity and user data.
Vulnerability Detail
An issue was discovered in phpMyAdmin before version 4.9.0, where a CSRF vulnerability allows an attacker to trick a user into executing unintended actions on their phpMyAdmin instance. This can occur through malicious links or images that target the user's session, potentially leading to unauthorized database modifications such as INSERT or DELETE statements. The vulnerability is classified with a CVSS score of 6.5, indicating a medium level of risk.
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
4:4.0.10-1ubuntu0.1+esm1
This is the first release that contains the fix.
sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade phpmyadminTip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary measure, users can mitigate the risk of CSRF attacks by implementing stricter session management practices, such as logging out of phpMyAdmin after use and avoiding clicking on untrusted links or images that may exploit this vulnerability.
Conclusion
The CSRF vulnerability in phpMyAdmin poses a significant risk to users managing MySQL databases. It is crucial to update to the latest patched versions to safeguard against potential attacks. Implementing best practices for session management can also help mitigate risks until updates are applied.
See every vulnerability recorded for phpmyadmin →
FAQ
A CSRF attack tricks a user into executing unwanted actions on a web application in which they are authenticated, potentially compromising their data.
If you are using a version of phpMyAdmin prior to 4.9.0, your installation may be vulnerable to this CSRF attack.
Implement temporary workarounds such as stricter session management and avoid clicking on suspicious links.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using a manifest file like package-lock.json.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities without needing to sign up.
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for phpmyadmin.
