CVE-2006-2031 in phpMyAdmin
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in phpMyAdmin 2.8.0.3, 2.8.0.2, 2.8.1-dev, and 2.9.0-dev allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the lang parameter.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/25/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-2031 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within phpMyAdmin versions 2.8.0.3, 2.8.0.2, 2.8.1-dev, and 2.9.0-dev. This security weakness resides in the index.php script and specifically targets the lang parameter handling mechanism. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security flaw that enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamic web content, creating an avenue for malicious code execution within the context of the victim's browser session.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the lang parameter, which is typically used to determine the language locale for the phpMyAdmin interface. Attackers can craft malicious payloads containing script tags or other HTML content that gets executed when the vulnerable application processes the parameter. When a user navigates to a specially crafted URL containing the malicious lang parameter, the web application includes the unvalidated input directly into the page output without proper sanitization. This allows the injected script to execute within the user's browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects the core authentication and interface components of phpMyAdmin, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise database server access.
The operational impact of CVE-2006-2031 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform sophisticated attacks against phpMyAdmin users who have administrative privileges. When exploited successfully, the vulnerability could allow unauthorized individuals to execute arbitrary commands on the database server, steal sensitive database credentials, or manipulate database contents. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no authentication to exploit, making it a server-side vulnerability that can be leveraged by remote attackers. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, where adversaries target web applications to gain unauthorized access. The impact is amplified when phpMyAdmin is deployed in environments where it has access to sensitive database information, as the attack could potentially lead to complete database compromise and data exfiltration.
Organizations utilizing vulnerable versions of phpMyAdmin should immediately implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability. The primary remediation involves upgrading to a patched version of phpMyAdmin, as the vulnerability was resolved in subsequent releases through proper input validation and sanitization of user parameters. Additionally, implementing proper parameter validation at the application level, including the use of allowlists for language parameters, can prevent malicious input from being processed. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can help detect and block malicious requests containing XSS payloads. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth by restricting script execution within the application context. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious parameter values in web server logs, particularly those containing script tags or other malicious content patterns. Organizations should also consider implementing secure coding practices and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in their web applications, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in preventing common web application attacks.