CVE-2007-5977 in phpMyAdmin
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in db_create.php in phpMyAdmin before 2.11.2.1 allows remote authenticated users with CREATE DATABASE privileges to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a hex-encoded IMG element in the db parameter in a POST request, a different vulnerability than CVE-2006-6942.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/01/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-5977 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within phpMyAdmin's database creation functionality. This issue affects versions prior to 2.11.2.1 and specifically targets the db_create.php script where input validation is insufficient to prevent malicious code injection. The vulnerability occurs when authenticated users with CREATE DATABASE privileges submit a specially crafted POST request containing a hex-encoded IMG element within the db parameter, enabling arbitrary script execution within the context of the victim's browser session.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability relies on the improper handling of user-supplied input during database creation operations. When phpMyAdmin processes the db parameter without adequate sanitization or encoding, it fails to properly escape or validate the hex-encoded IMG element that contains malicious script content. This weakness allows attackers to inject HTML and JavaScript code that executes in the browser of any user who views the affected database creation page or interacts with the maliciously crafted database name. The vulnerability is classified as a reflected XSS issue under CWE-79, where the malicious payload is reflected back to the user through the application's response handling mechanism.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with persistent access to victim sessions within the phpMyAdmin interface. Since the vulnerability requires only CREATE DATABASE privileges, attackers can potentially compromise systems where database administrators have elevated access rights. This creates a significant risk for web applications that rely on phpMyAdmin for database management, particularly in environments where administrative access is not adequately restricted or where users with database creation rights are not properly vetted. The attack vector specifically targets authenticated users, making it particularly dangerous in environments where legitimate administrative access exists.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of broader attack frameworks such as those described in the MITRE ATT&CK methodology, where it maps to techniques involving client-side code injection and session hijacking. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and output encoding in web applications, particularly when handling user-supplied data in administrative interfaces. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to phpMyAdmin version 2.11.2.1 or later, which contains proper input sanitization measures, and implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious hex-encoded payloads. Additionally, administrators should review user privilege assignments to ensure that database creation rights are appropriately restricted to only trusted personnel, reducing the attack surface for such client-side vulnerabilities.