CVE-2005-2256 in phpPgAdmin
Summary
by MITRE
Encoded directory traversal vulnerability in phpPgAdmin 3.1 to 3.5.3 allows remote attackers to access arbitrary files via "%2e%2e%2f" (encoded dot dot) sequences in the formLanguage parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/21/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-2256 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within phpPgAdmin versions 3.1 through 3.5.3 that exposes systems to remote exploitation. This issue specifically affects the formLanguage parameter handling within the application's file inclusion mechanisms, creating a pathway for attackers to bypass normal access controls and retrieve arbitrary files from the server filesystem. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied parameters, allowing maliciously crafted encoded sequences to traverse directory structures and access sensitive files that should remain protected.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability leverages encoded dot-dot-slash sequences using the URL encoding format %2e%2e%2f which translates to ../ in standard file path notation. When phpPgAdmin processes the formLanguage parameter without proper validation, it fails to sanitize the input before using it in file operations, enabling attackers to construct paths that navigate upward through the directory hierarchy. This allows unauthorized access to configuration files, database credentials, application source code, and other sensitive data stored on the server. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no special privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous for database administration tools that often contain sensitive information.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-2256 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can enable attackers to gain deeper system access and potentially escalate privileges within the database environment. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract database connection strings, administrative credentials, and other sensitive configuration data that could be used for further attacks against the database infrastructure or related systems. The vulnerability also affects the principle of least privilege by allowing remote attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms and access files that should only be available to authorized administrators. This weakness creates opportunities for data exfiltration, system compromise, and potential lateral movement within network environments where database administration tools are deployed.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and sanitization techniques for all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in file path operations. Organizations should immediately upgrade to phpPgAdmin versions that have patched this vulnerability, as the affected versions are no longer supported and contain multiple security weaknesses. The fix typically involves implementing strict parameter validation that rejects or normalizes encoded directory traversal sequences before they are processed by the application. This remediation aligns with security best practices outlined in the CWE-22 weakness category, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, and corresponds to techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1083 discovery tactic. Organizations should also implement web application firewalls and input filtering mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in other applications, while conducting regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar path traversal weaknesses in their database administration environments.