CVE-2004-2218 in Phpmywebhosting
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in pmwh.php in PHPMyWebHosting 0.3.4 and earlier allows remote attackers to modify SQL statements via the password parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/30/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2218 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within PHPMyWebHosting version 0.3.4 and earlier releases. This security weakness resides in the pmwh.php script which processes user input without proper sanitization or validation mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically targets the password parameter, which when manipulated by remote attackers can lead to unauthorized modification of underlying SQL statements. Such a flaw fundamentally compromises the integrity of database operations and exposes sensitive information to malicious actors who can exploit the insecure input handling.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the application's database interaction layer. When users provide input through the password parameter, the application fails to properly escape or parameterize the data before incorporating it into SQL queries. This creates an environment where attackers can inject malicious SQL code that gets executed with the privileges of the database user. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which classifies SQL injection as a weakness that allows attackers to manipulate database queries through unescaped input. The flaw demonstrates a classic lack of input sanitization and output encoding practices that are fundamental to preventing injection attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation to encompass full database compromise and potential system infiltration. Remote attackers can leverage this weakness to extract confidential information, modify database records, delete critical data, or even escalate privileges within the database environment. The vulnerability affects the authentication and authorization mechanisms of PHPMyWebHosting, potentially allowing unauthorized access to user accounts and sensitive administrative functions. Organizations utilizing affected versions face significant risk of data breaches, service disruption, and compliance violations that could result in regulatory penalties and reputational damage.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-2218 require immediate implementation of input validation and parameterized queries to prevent malicious SQL code execution. Organizations should upgrade to PHPMyWebHosting version 0.3.5 or later where the vulnerability has been patched and proper input sanitization mechanisms have been implemented. The recommended approach involves implementing prepared statements or parameterized queries for all database interactions, ensuring that user input is properly escaped and validated before processing. Additionally, implementing proper access controls, regular security audits, and network segmentation can help reduce the attack surface and limit potential damage from exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to the principle of least privilege in database application development, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation and T1046 for network service scanning that may precede exploitation of such vulnerabilities.