CVE-2014-8959 in phpMyAdmin
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in libraries/gis/GIS_Factory.class.php in the GIS editor in phpMyAdmin 4.0.x before 4.0.10.6, 4.1.x before 4.1.14.7, and 4.2.x before 4.2.12 allows remote authenticated users to include and execute arbitrary local files via a crafted geometry-type parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/27/2022
The CVE-2014-8959 vulnerability represents a critical directory traversal flaw within phpMyAdmin's Geographic Information System editor component, specifically affecting versions prior to the mentioned secure releases. This vulnerability exists in the GIS_Factory.class.php file which handles geometry type parameters for database spatial data operations. The flaw allows authenticated remote attackers to manipulate file inclusion mechanisms through crafted geometry parameters, effectively bypassing normal access controls and potentially executing arbitrary code on the affected server. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied geometry type parameters that are processed by the GIS editor functionality.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability relies on the improper handling of geometry type parameters within the GIS editor's factory pattern implementation. When users provide crafted geometry type values, the application fails to properly validate or sanitize these inputs before using them in file inclusion operations. This creates a path traversal condition where attacker-controlled data can influence the file system operations, allowing the inclusion of local files that should remain protected. The vulnerability specifically affects the way phpMyAdmin processes spatial data types, particularly when handling geometry objects that are stored in database tables. Attackers can leverage this flaw to include local files through the GIS editor interface, potentially accessing sensitive system files, configuration data, or executing malicious code with the privileges of the web server process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can enable full system compromise when combined with other attack vectors. An authenticated attacker with access to phpMyAdmin can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on the target system, potentially leading to complete server compromise. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of phpMyAdmin, making it particularly dangerous as organizations may be running vulnerable versions across different environments. The impact is amplified because phpMyAdmin is widely used for database administration, and many organizations have it installed with default configurations that may not properly restrict access. This vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, and represents a classic path traversal attack vector that can lead to arbitrary file inclusion.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability primarily involve upgrading to the patched versions of phpMyAdmin that address the directory traversal issue in the GIS editor component. Organizations should immediately implement the official security patches released by phpMyAdmin for versions 4.0.10.6, 4.1.14.7, and 4.2.12, which contain proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms. Additionally, implementing network-level restrictions such as firewall rules that limit access to phpMyAdmin to trusted IP addresses, disabling the GIS editor functionality for users who do not require it, and ensuring proper authentication controls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices, particularly in input validation and file handling operations, as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and MITRE ATT&CK framework's techniques for privilege escalation and code injection. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their phpMyAdmin installations to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application stack.