CVE-2006-5117 in phpMyAdmin
Summary
by MITRE
phpMyAdmin before 2.9.1-rc1 has a libraries directory under the web document root with insufficient access control, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via direct requests for certain files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/23/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-5117 affects phpMyAdmin versions prior to 2.9.1-rc1 and represents a critical access control flaw that exposes sensitive system information through improper directory permissions. This issue arises from the presence of a libraries directory directly accessible within the web document root, creating an avenue for remote attackers to bypass normal authentication mechanisms and directly access files that should remain protected. The flaw fundamentally undermines the security model of the application by allowing unauthorized access to components that contain sensitive data and functionality.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate access control mechanisms within the phpMyAdmin file structure. When the libraries directory resides within the web document root, it becomes directly accessible to any remote user who can construct appropriate HTTP requests. This configuration violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and proper resource isolation, as the directory contains essential application components that should only be accessible through proper authentication and authorization processes. The vulnerability specifically targets the web server's document root structure, where files are served directly without proper access validation.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables remote attackers to obtain sensitive information including database connection details, configuration settings, and potentially administrative credentials that could lead to complete system compromise. The exposure of library files may reveal implementation details that could aid in further exploitation attempts, while direct access to sensitive configuration data could provide attackers with information needed to escalate privileges or conduct targeted attacks against the database infrastructure. The remote nature of this attack vector significantly increases the threat surface and reduces the time required for exploitation.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and represents a classic example of insecure direct object references that allow unauthorized access to protected resources. This flaw also maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1566 (Phishing), as attackers can systematically enumerate and access sensitive files without requiring valid authentication credentials. Organizations using vulnerable versions of phpMyAdmin face significant risk of data breaches and unauthorized system access, particularly in environments where database administrators have not implemented additional security controls.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate upgrade to phpMyAdmin version 2.9.1-rc1 or later, which addresses the directory access control issue through proper access restrictions. Administrators should also implement additional security measures such as moving sensitive directories outside the web document root, implementing proper access controls through web server configurations, and applying security headers to prevent directory traversal attacks. Network-level controls including firewall rules and intrusion detection systems can provide additional defense-in-depth layers to detect and prevent unauthorized access attempts to sensitive directories and files.