CVE-2014-7217 in phpMyAdmin
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in phpMyAdmin 4.0.x before 4.0.10.4, 4.1.x before 4.1.14.5, and 4.2.x before 4.2.9.1 allow remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted ENUM value that is improperly handled during rendering of the (1) table search or (2) table structure page, related to libraries/TableSearch.class.php and libraries/Util.class.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/21/2022
The vulnerability CVE-2014-7217 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting multiple versions of phpMyAdmin, specifically targeting the 4.0.x series before 4.0.10.4, 4.1.x series before 4.1.14.5, and 4.2.x series before 4.2.9.1. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of ENUM data types during the rendering of table search and structure pages, creating a pathway for authenticated attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of the victim's browser. The flaw resides in the libraries/TableSearch.class.php and libraries/Util.class.php files, which fail to adequately sanitize user-supplied ENUM values before displaying them in web interfaces. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only authentication to exploit, meaning that any user with valid credentials to the phpMyAdmin interface can potentially leverage this weakness to inject arbitrary web script or HTML code. This represents a significant risk to database administrators who rely on phpMyAdmin for database management, as the attack vector is accessible through standard administrative functions that are commonly used during routine database operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper sanitization of ENUM values in database schema representations, where maliciously crafted ENUM entries containing script tags or other malicious code can be stored in the database and subsequently rendered in the phpMyAdmin interface without proper HTML escaping or encoding. When users navigate to table search or structure pages, the application processes these ENUM values through the vulnerable code paths in TableSearch.class.php and Util.class.php, which fail to implement adequate input validation or output encoding mechanisms. The CWE-79 classification applies here as this represents a failure to sanitize user-provided data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content, creating an environment where attacker-controlled data can be executed as scripts. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic XSS pattern where the application does not properly escape special characters in user-supplied data, allowing malicious payloads to be interpreted as executable code rather than plain text. This flaw is particularly insidious because ENUM values are commonly used in database schema definitions and are often manipulated by database administrators during routine maintenance activities, making the attack surface quite broad.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-7217 extends beyond simple script injection, as authenticated attackers can potentially leverage this vulnerability to perform session hijacking, steal administrative credentials, or redirect users to malicious websites. The attack requires minimal privileges since only authentication is needed to access the vulnerable phpMyAdmin interface, making it particularly dangerous in environments where database administrators maintain broad access rights. An attacker could craft a malicious ENUM value that, when displayed in the table search or structure pages, executes a script that steals cookies or session tokens, effectively compromising the administrator's session and potentially gaining full database access. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of phpMyAdmin, which is widely used across organizations for database administration, making the potential impact substantial. Organizations using vulnerable versions of phpMyAdmin face increased risk of data breaches, unauthorized access to sensitive database information, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure, especially when database administrators have access to multiple systems or applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1566 (Phishing) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) when considering the potential for attackers to redirect users to malicious domains or establish command and control channels through the executed scripts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-7217 primarily involve immediate patching of affected phpMyAdmin installations to versions 4.0.10.4, 4.1.14.5, or 4.2.9.1, which contain the necessary code fixes to properly sanitize ENUM values during rendering. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as input validation at multiple layers, including database-level validation of ENUM values, and output encoding for all dynamic content rendered in web interfaces. Network segmentation and privilege separation can help limit the impact of successful exploitation by ensuring that database administrators do not have unnecessary access to other systems. Web application firewalls can provide additional protection by filtering suspicious patterns in HTTP requests, though this approach is less reliable than proper code-level fixes. Regular security audits of phpMyAdmin configurations and user access controls should be implemented to identify and remediate potential security misconfigurations that could be exploited in conjunction with this vulnerability. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management processes to ensure timely deployment of security updates and maintain inventory of all phpMyAdmin installations across their infrastructure to prevent similar vulnerabilities from remaining unpatched.