CVE-2014-6300 in phpMyAdmin
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the micro history implementation in phpMyAdmin 4.0.x before 4.0.10.3, 4.1.x before 4.1.14.4, and 4.2.x before 4.2.8.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML, and consequently conduct a cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attack to create a root account, via a crafted URL, related to js/ajax.js.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/24/2025
The CVE-2014-6300 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within phpMyAdmin's micro history implementation that affected multiple versions of the popular database management tool. This vulnerability specifically targeted the js/ajax.js file and enabled remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content through carefully crafted URLs. The flaw existed in phpMyAdmin versions 4.0.x prior to 4.0.10.3, 4.1.x prior to 4.1.14.4, and 4.2.x prior to 4.2.8.1, making it a widespread issue affecting a significant portion of the user base. The vulnerability's impact was particularly severe because it not only allowed for standard XSS attacks but also facilitated cross-site request forgery operations that could lead to privilege escalation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurred through the micro history feature that tracks user navigation within the phpMyAdmin interface. When users clicked on maliciously crafted URLs containing injected scripts, the vulnerability in js/ajax.js would execute these scripts in the context of the victim's browser session. This implementation flaw stemmed from inadequate input sanitization and output encoding of user-supplied data within the history tracking mechanism. The vulnerability was classified as CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and the attack vector was categorized under CWE-20, representing improper input validation. The exploitation chain was particularly dangerous as it could be leveraged to perform CSRF attacks that would create administrative root accounts, effectively granting attackers complete control over the database server.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extended far beyond typical XSS scenarios, as it provided attackers with the capability to establish persistent administrative access to database systems. Attackers could craft malicious URLs that would automatically execute commands in the context of authenticated users, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion. The ability to create root accounts through CSRF attacks meant that even users with limited privileges could escalate their access levels and gain complete control over database operations. This vulnerability particularly affected organizations that relied on phpMyAdmin for database management, as it could be exploited through social engineering techniques where users would be tricked into clicking malicious links. The attack could occur without requiring any special authentication credentials from the attacker, making it particularly insidious and difficult to detect.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should have implemented immediate mitigations including upgrading to the patched versions of phpMyAdmin, specifically versions 4.0.10.3, 4.1.14.4, and 4.2.8.1. The recommended approach involved comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all phpMyAdmin installations were updated to versions that addressed the XSS and CSRF vulnerabilities. Additional defensive measures included implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms, deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests, and conducting regular security audits of web applications. The vulnerability also highlighted the importance of secure coding practices and input sanitization, particularly in JavaScript components that handle user data. Organizations should have also considered implementing content security policies to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts and established monitoring procedures to detect suspicious user activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing robust security controls in database management environments.