CVE-2008-7251 in phpMyAdmin
Summary
by MITRE
libraries/File.class.php in phpMyAdmin 2.11.x before 2.11.10 creates a temporary directory with 0777 permissions, which has unknown impact and attack vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/11/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-7251 affects phpMyAdmin version 2.11.x prior to 2.11.10, specifically within the libraries/File.class.php component. This issue represents a critical security flaw that stems from improper permission handling during temporary directory creation. The vulnerability manifests when the application generates temporary directories with overly permissive 0777 permissions, which grants read, write, and execute access to all users on the system. This misconfiguration creates a significant attack surface that could be exploited by malicious actors to compromise the affected system.
The technical flaw resides in the File.class.php library's implementation where temporary directories are created without proper permission enforcement. The 0777 permission setting violates fundamental security principles by providing unrestricted access to the temporary directory. This allows any user account on the system to read, modify, or execute files within this directory, potentially enabling privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability operates at the file system level and can be classified under CWE-732, which deals with Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resources, or CWE-276, which addresses Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resources. The impact of this flaw extends beyond simple permission issues as it creates opportunities for attackers to inject malicious code into the temporary directory and subsequently execute it within the context of the web application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it provides attackers with potential means to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to sensitive system resources. Attackers could leverage the overly permissive temporary directory to upload malicious files, modify existing components, or establish persistent access points within the system. The vulnerability creates an environment where arbitrary code execution becomes possible, particularly when the application subsequently processes files from this directory. This flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, and T1078 for Valid Accounts, as it could enable attackers to gain system-level access through the web application interface. The lack of proper access controls makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous in shared hosting environments or multi-tenant systems where multiple users may have access to the same web server.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation through updating to phpMyAdmin version 2.11.10 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the permission handling issue. System administrators should also implement additional security controls such as restricting the temporary directory permissions to more restrictive settings like 0755 or 0700, depending on the specific requirements of the application. Regular security audits should be conducted to identify and correct similar permission misconfigurations throughout the application stack. Network segmentation and monitoring of file system access patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper access control implementation and highlights the need for security-conscious coding practices that adhere to the principle of least privilege. Organizations should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools that can detect similar permission misconfigurations across their web applications and infrastructure components.