CVE-2013-4454 in Portable phpMyAdmin Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
WordPress Portable phpMyAdmin Plugin 1.4.1 has Multiple Security Bypass Vulnerabilities
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/25/2025
The WordPress Portable phpMyAdmin Plugin version 1.4.1 contains multiple security bypass vulnerabilities that collectively undermine the authentication and authorization mechanisms of the WordPress platform. These vulnerabilities arise from insufficient input validation and inadequate access control checks within the plugin's implementation, creating pathways for unauthorized users to bypass critical security controls. The plugin's design fails to properly verify user permissions before granting access to administrative functions, allowing attackers to exploit these weaknesses and gain elevated privileges without proper authentication.
The technical flaw manifests through improper validation of user credentials and session management within the plugin's interface. Attackers can exploit these bypass vulnerabilities to access phpMyAdmin functionalities directly through the WordPress admin panel without requiring legitimate administrative credentials. This occurs because the plugin does not adequately enforce WordPress's built-in user role and capability checks, enabling users with minimal privileges to access sensitive database management operations. The vulnerability stems from a lack of proper authorization verification at multiple entry points within the plugin's code structure, creating persistent access vectors that remain undetected by standard security monitoring systems.
The operational impact of these security bypass vulnerabilities is significant and far-reaching for WordPress installations using the affected plugin. Unauthorized access to phpMyAdmin functions allows attackers to execute arbitrary database queries, modify or delete critical data, and potentially escalate their privileges within the WordPress environment. This vulnerability can lead to complete compromise of the WordPress site, including data exfiltration, defacement, and the installation of malicious code. The implications extend beyond immediate data loss as attackers can use these bypasses to establish persistent access, create backdoors, and conduct reconnaissance activities that may go unnoticed for extended periods.
Organizations should immediately disable or remove the vulnerable WordPress Portable phpMyAdmin Plugin from affected installations and implement comprehensive patch management procedures to address the identified security gaps. Security teams must conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and monitor network traffic for suspicious activities related to phpMyAdmin access patterns. The implementation of additional access controls and monitoring mechanisms around database management interfaces can help detect and prevent unauthorized access attempts. Regular security audits and code reviews should be performed to identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins and themes, ensuring that all WordPress components maintain proper authentication and authorization controls. These vulnerabilities align with common weakness enumerations such as CWE-285 for improper authorization and CWE-306 for missing authentication, while also mapping to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and credential access through software exploitation.