CVE-2006-5638 in PHPMyRing
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in cherche.php in PHPMyRing 4.2.1 and earlier allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) limite and (2) mots parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/26/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-5638 affects PHPMyRing version 4.2.1 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to perform SQL injection attacks against the cherche.php script. This vulnerability resides within a web application framework designed for database management and information retrieval, making it particularly dangerous as it directly impacts the underlying database infrastructure. The flaw specifically targets two parameters named 'limite' and 'mots' which are processed without proper input validation or sanitization, creating an exploitable entry point for malicious actors seeking unauthorized database access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly escape or validate user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL query constructions. When users provide values for the 'limite' and 'mots' parameters, the cherche.php script directly interpolates these inputs into database queries without adequate sanitization measures. This pattern of insecure input handling falls under the CWE-89 category of SQL Injection, specifically manifesting as a classic blind SQL injection vulnerability where attackers can manipulate the database query structure to execute unintended commands. The vulnerability allows for arbitrary SQL command execution, potentially enabling attackers to extract sensitive data, modify database contents, or even gain elevated privileges within the database system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with comprehensive database manipulation capabilities. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to bypass authentication mechanisms, access confidential information stored in the database, modify or delete critical data, and potentially escalate their privileges to gain deeper system access. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that PHPMyRing was commonly used for managing web-based database applications, meaning that successful exploitation could compromise entire database systems. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application) and T1071.005 (Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols) as it targets a publicly accessible web application component to gain unauthorized database access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-5638 require immediate implementation of input validation and parameterized query approaches to prevent SQL injection attacks. Organizations should upgrade to PHPMyRing version 4.2.2 or later, which includes proper input sanitization measures and secure query construction methods. The recommended approach involves implementing prepared statements or parameterized queries for all database interactions, ensuring that user inputs are properly escaped or validated before being incorporated into SQL commands. Additionally, implementing proper access controls, input filtering, and output encoding can significantly reduce the attack surface and prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities. Security monitoring should also be enhanced to detect unusual database access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, while regular security audits should verify that all input handling mechanisms properly validate and sanitize user-supplied data to prevent future occurrences of this type of vulnerability.