CVE-2006-5116 in phpMyAdmin
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerabilities in phpMyAdmin before 2.9.1-rc1 allow remote attackers to perform unauthorized actions as another user by (1) directly setting a token in the URL though dynamic variable evaluation and (2) unsetting arbitrary variables via the _REQUEST array, related to (a) libraries/common.lib.php, (b) session.inc.php, and (c) url_generating.lib.php. NOTE: the PHP unset function vector is covered by CVE-2006-3017.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/23/2026
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-5116 represents a critical cross-site request forgery weakness affecting phpMyAdmin versions prior to 2.9.1-rc1. This vulnerability operates through two primary attack vectors that collectively enable remote attackers to execute unauthorized administrative actions on behalf of other users. The first vector involves direct token manipulation within URL parameters through dynamic variable evaluation, while the second exploits the _REQUEST array to unset arbitrary variables, effectively bypassing security mechanisms designed to prevent unauthorized access. These flaws are particularly dangerous because they target fundamental session management and authentication controls within the phpMyAdmin interface, which serves as a widely deployed database administration tool for web applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of session tokens and variable management within phpMyAdmin's core libraries. Specifically, the flaws exist in three key files: libraries/common.lib.php, session.inc.php, and url_generating.lib.php. The dynamic variable evaluation mechanism allows attackers to manipulate session tokens directly through URL parameters, while the _REQUEST array manipulation enables the removal of critical security variables that would normally validate user authorization. This combination creates a scenario where an attacker can craft malicious URLs that appear legitimate to the phpMyAdmin application, thereby tricking authenticated users into executing unintended administrative operations without their knowledge or consent. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which defines Cross-Site Request Forgery as a weakness where the application fails to validate the origin of requests, and represents a classic example of how improper input validation can lead to privilege escalation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation to encompass complete administrative control over affected databases. Attackers can leverage these CSRF flaws to perform any action available to authenticated users, including creating new database users, modifying existing accounts, deleting tables, and executing arbitrary SQL commands. The attack requires minimal technical expertise since it relies on standard web-based techniques rather than complex exploitation methods. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on phpMyAdmin for database administration, which includes thousands of web applications across various industries. Given that phpMyAdmin is commonly deployed in shared hosting environments and enterprise applications, the potential attack surface is extensive. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper session management and input validation in web applications, as it allows attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms entirely through manipulation of request parameters.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-5116 require immediate patching of affected phpMyAdmin installations to version 2.9.1-rc1 or later, which addresses both the token manipulation and variable unset vulnerabilities. Organizations should also implement additional protective measures including the deployment of web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious parameter manipulation patterns, enhanced session management controls, and regular security audits of web applications. Network administrators should consider implementing access controls that limit direct access to phpMyAdmin interfaces and require additional authentication layers such as two-factor authentication. The vulnerability highlights the necessity of following secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines, particularly regarding input validation, session management, and authentication mechanisms. Organizations should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar weaknesses in other web applications and ensure that security patches are applied promptly across all systems. The incident underscores the importance of maintaining current software versions and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against authenticated privilege escalation attacks.