CVE-2006-6374 in PhpMyAdmin
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple CRLF injection vulnerabilities in PhpMyAdmin 2.7.0-pl2 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary HTTP headers and conduct HTTP response splitting attacks via CRLF sequences in a phpMyAdmin cookie in (1) css/phpmyadmin.css.php, (2) db_create.php, (3) index.php, (4) left.php, (5) libraries/session.inc.php, (6) libraries/transformations/overview.php, (7) querywindow.php, (8) server_engines.php, and possibly other files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/10/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-6374 represents a critical security flaw in PhpMyAdmin version 2.7.0-pl2 that exposes the application to cross-site scripting and HTTP response splitting attacks through improper input validation of cookie data. This vulnerability specifically targets the handling of carriage return line feed sequences within the application's cookie management system, creating an avenue for malicious actors to manipulate HTTP headers and inject arbitrary content into server responses. The flaw affects multiple core files within the PhpMyAdmin framework including css/phpmyadmin.css.php, db_create.php, index.php, left.php, libraries/session.inc.php, libraries/transformations/overview.php, querywindow.php, and server_engines.php, indicating a systemic issue in how the application processes user-supplied cookie values without adequate sanitization.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into HTTP response headers. When a user's cookie contains CRLF characters, these sequences can be interpreted by the web server as the end of one HTTP header and the beginning of another, enabling attackers to inject malicious headers into the response stream. This creates a condition where an attacker can manipulate the HTTP response to include additional headers such as Location, Set-Cookie, or Content-Type directives, potentially redirecting users to malicious sites or injecting content that could be interpreted by web browsers as legitimate responses. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that rely on PhpMyAdmin for database management operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple header injection, as it enables sophisticated attack vectors including session hijacking, cross-site scripting, and HTTP response splitting attacks that can compromise user sessions and data integrity. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to manipulate the application's behavior and potentially redirect users to phishing sites or inject malicious scripts that persist across user sessions. The attack surface is significant given that the vulnerability affects core application files that are frequently accessed during normal operation, meaning that any user with access to the PhpMyAdmin interface could be vulnerable to exploitation. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-113, which describes improper neutralization of CRLF sequences in HTTP headers, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 for phishing attacks and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage.
The recommended mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-6374 include immediate patching of the PhpMyAdmin application to version 2.7.0-pl3 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to properly sanitize cookie input and prevent CRLF sequence injection. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation measures that filter or escape CRLF characters from all user-supplied data, particularly cookie values, before they are processed or stored. Network administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious CRLF sequences in HTTP headers, while security teams should monitor for signs of exploitation attempts through log analysis and intrusion detection systems. Additionally, implementing proper cookie security attributes such as HttpOnly and Secure flags can help reduce the overall impact of potential exploitation, though these measures alone do not fully address the core vulnerability in the application's input handling mechanisms.