CVE-2008-5621 in phpMyAdmin
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in phpMyAdmin 2.11.x before 2.11.9.4 and 3.x before 3.1.1.0 allows remote attackers to perform unauthorized actions as the administrator via a link or IMG tag to tbl_structure.php with a modified table parameter. NOTE: other unspecified pages are also reachable, but they have the same root cause. NOTE: this can be leveraged to conduct SQL injection attacks and execute arbitrary code.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/24/2025
The CVE-2008-5621 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw in phpMyAdmin versions prior to 2.11.9.4 and 3.1.1.0, fundamentally undermining the application's security posture through unauthorized administrative actions. This vulnerability operates by exploiting the absence of proper anti-CSRF mechanisms in the web application's request handling process, allowing malicious actors to craft deceptive links or image tags that execute administrative functions without proper authentication or authorization. The core technical flaw manifests in the tbl_structure.php endpoint where the application fails to validate the origin of requests, enabling attackers to manipulate the table parameter through crafted URLs. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it provides a foundation for more severe attacks, including SQL injection exploitation and arbitrary code execution, making it particularly dangerous for database administrators who rely on phpMyAdmin for their database management tasks. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.001 for Data from Information Repositories, demonstrating how attackers can leverage such flaws to access and manipulate database structures. The root cause lies in the application's failure to implement proper request validation and token-based authentication mechanisms that would ensure requests originate from legitimate sources within the application's trusted environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, particularly for organizations relying on phpMyAdmin for database administration tasks. Attackers can exploit this flaw by embedding malicious links or image tags within web pages, email messages, or forums, which when clicked or loaded by an authenticated administrator, execute unauthorized database operations. The modified table parameter allows attackers to manipulate database structures, potentially leading to data corruption, unauthorized data access, or complete database compromise. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited without requiring any special privileges or credentials from the attacker, as long as they can convince an administrator to interact with a malicious page. The exploitation chain typically involves crafting a malicious URL that targets the vulnerable tbl_structure.php endpoint, where the application processes the modified table parameter without proper validation. The vulnerability's reach extends to other unspecified pages within the application, indicating a systemic flaw in the application's security architecture rather than an isolated endpoint issue. Organizations using vulnerable versions face significant risk of data breaches, unauthorized database modifications, and potential system compromise, as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and gain deeper access to database resources. The vulnerability's potential for SQL injection exploitation and arbitrary code execution creates a pathway for attackers to establish persistent access or escalate their privileges within the database environment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-5621 must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar vulnerabilities. The primary and most effective mitigation is upgrading to phpMyAdmin versions 2.11.9.4 or 3.1.1.0, which contain proper CSRF protection mechanisms and token validation. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all phpMyAdmin installations are promptly updated, as this vulnerability has been known for over a decade and represents a classic example of inadequate security controls. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious request patterns targeting known vulnerable endpoints, providing an additional layer of protection. The implementation of proper anti-CSRF tokens within all application forms and endpoints serves as a fundamental defense mechanism, ensuring that requests originate from legitimate user sessions and cannot be forged by malicious actors. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit direct access to phpMyAdmin interfaces, particularly in production environments where administrator privileges are required. Security monitoring and logging should be enhanced to detect unusual administrative activities that may indicate exploitation attempts, including monitoring for unauthorized database structure modifications or access patterns. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities within their web applications, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of implementing proper input validation and authentication mechanisms. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the upgrade does not introduce compatibility issues with existing database operations, and administrators should verify that proper CSRF protection is functioning correctly across all application endpoints. This vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and the necessity of implementing robust authentication and authorization controls in web applications to prevent unauthorized access and privilege escalation.