CVE-2005-0992 in phpMyAdmin
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in phpMyAdmin before 2.6.2-rc1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the convcharset parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0992 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the phpMyAdmin web-based database management tool. This security weakness exists in versions prior to 2.6.2-rc1 and specifically affects the index.php script where user input is not properly sanitized before being rendered in web responses. The vulnerability manifests through the convcharset parameter which serves as an injection vector for malicious code execution. This flaw enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of a victim's browser session, potentially compromising user data and system integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting as a code injection flaw where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper validation or encoding. The convcharset parameter in phpMyAdmin's index.php script fails to implement adequate input sanitization measures, allowing attackers to submit malicious payloads that get executed when the affected page is rendered. This type of vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the web interface's handling of user-supplied data, making it particularly dangerous in environments where phpMyAdmin is accessible to untrusted users or where administrative access is compromised.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, steal cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or execute unauthorized database operations. When exploited, the XSS vulnerability can lead to complete compromise of database access, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within network environments where phpMyAdmin is deployed. The vulnerability affects organizations using older versions of phpMyAdmin and particularly those without proper network segmentation or web application firewalls in place to detect and prevent such attacks. Attackers can leverage this flaw to establish persistent access to database management interfaces, making it a prime target for advanced persistent threat actors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-0992 require immediate version updates to phpMyAdmin 2.6.2-rc1 or later releases where the XSS vulnerability has been addressed through proper input validation and output encoding. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all instances of phpMyAdmin are updated promptly. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls to monitor for suspicious parameter values, enforcing strict input validation policies, and deploying content security policies to prevent script execution. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and maintaining up-to-date security configurations as outlined in the mitre ATT&CK framework's application layer attacks category. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of phpMyAdmin interfaces to only authorized personnel and systems, reducing the attack surface for such vulnerabilities.