CVE-2007-0204 in phpMyAdmin
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in phpMyAdmin before 2.9.2-rc1 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/16/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-0204 represents a critical security flaw in phpMyAdmin versions prior to 2.9.2-rc1, exposing the application to multiple cross-site scripting attacks that can be exploited by remote attackers. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is a fundamental web application security weakness that occurs when an application includes untrusted data in web pages without proper validation or encoding. The flaw enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users, creating a persistent threat vector that can compromise user sessions and data integrity.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the phpMyAdmin application. Attackers can leverage unspecified vectors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into the application's interface, potentially targeting administrative users who have elevated privileges. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of phpMyAdmin by allowing malicious code execution in the context of the victim's browser session, which can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized database modifications. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in database administration tools where users often have elevated privileges and access to sensitive data.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-0204 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to database resources. When administrators or privileged users interact with compromised phpMyAdmin interfaces, they become susceptible to attacks that can result in complete system compromise. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not need physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous in environments where phpMyAdmin is exposed to external networks. This weakness can facilitate data exfiltration, unauthorized database modifications, and potential lateral movement within network infrastructures where database access is required.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability primarily involve immediate patching of phpMyAdmin installations to version 2.9.2-rc1 or later, which incorporates proper input validation and output encoding measures. Organizations should implement comprehensive web application firewall rules to detect and block suspicious script injections, while also establishing regular security audits of database administration tools. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patched versions to ensure that functionality remains intact while addressing the XSS vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing proper security configurations such as disabling unnecessary features, restricting access to phpMyAdmin through network controls, and establishing secure coding practices for any custom modifications to the application can significantly reduce the attack surface and prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities.