CVE-2011-2505 in phpMyAdmin
Summary
by MITRE
libraries/auth/swekey/swekey.auth.lib.php in the Swekey authentication feature in phpMyAdmin 3.x before 3.3.10.2 and 3.4.x before 3.4.3.1 assigns values to arbitrary parameters referenced in the query string, which allows remote attackers to modify the SESSION superglobal array via a crafted request, related to a "remote variable manipulation vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/08/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2011-2505 represents a critical remote variable manipulation flaw within the Swekey authentication feature of phpMyAdmin versions prior to 3.3.10.2 and 3.4.3.1. This issue resides in the libraries/auth/swekey/swekey.auth.lib.php file where the authentication module fails to properly validate or sanitize input parameters from the query string. The flaw enables attackers to manipulate the SESSION superglobal array through carefully crafted HTTP requests, effectively allowing unauthorized modification of session variables that control user authentication state and access permissions.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-95 category of "Improper Neutralization of Directives in Dynamically Evaluated Code" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.1.1 for Valid Accounts, as it allows attackers to manipulate session data to gain unauthorized access to administrative functions. The technical implementation involves the Swekey authentication module directly assigning values from the query string to parameters within the SESSION array without proper sanitization or validation. When phpMyAdmin processes authentication requests, it accepts user-supplied parameters from the URL and directly incorporates them into the session management structure, creating an avenue for attackers to inject malicious data into the session variables.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows remote attackers to manipulate session data and potentially escalate privileges within the phpMyAdmin interface. An attacker could craft a malicious request that modifies session variables such as user permissions, authentication status, or other critical session parameters. This manipulation could result in unauthorized access to database management functions, data modification capabilities, or even full administrative control over the phpMyAdmin instance. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects the core authentication mechanism, making it a primary target for exploitation in web application attacks.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2011-2505 requires immediate patching of affected phpMyAdmin versions to either 3.3.10.2 or 3.4.3.1, which contain the necessary fixes to prevent arbitrary parameter assignment to the SESSION superglobal array. System administrators should also implement proper input validation and sanitization measures at the web application level, ensuring that all parameters derived from query strings are properly validated before being used in session management operations. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious parameter patterns, restricting access to phpMyAdmin through network-level controls, and disabling unnecessary authentication modules when Swekey authentication is not required. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments of their phpMyAdmin installations to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in the authentication subsystem.