CVE-2016-2038 in phpMyAdmin
Summary
by MITRE
phpMyAdmin 4.0.x before 4.0.10.13, 4.4.x before 4.4.15.3, and 4.5.x before 4.5.4 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via a crafted request, which reveals the full path in an error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2038 represents a critical information disclosure flaw in phpMyAdmin versions prior to specific patched releases. This vulnerability resides in the application's error handling mechanism and allows remote attackers to extract sensitive system path information through carefully crafted HTTP requests. The flaw manifests when phpMyAdmin encounters an error condition and inadvertently exposes the full server path in its error messages, providing attackers with valuable reconnaissance information about the underlying system architecture. The vulnerability affects multiple version streams including 4.0.x before 4.0.10.13, 4.4.x before 4.4.15.3, and 4.5.x before 4.5.4, indicating a widespread issue across the phpMyAdmin codebase that persisted across several major releases.
This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-209, which defines "Information Exposure Through an Error Message" as a weakness where applications reveal sensitive information through error messages. The technical implementation involves phpMyAdmin's insufficient sanitization of error conditions during request processing, particularly when handling malformed or unexpected input parameters. When attackers submit specially crafted requests that trigger internal application errors, the system's default error handling routines include the absolute file path where the error occurred, effectively leaking system information to unauthorized parties. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no authentication to exploit, making it particularly dangerous in environments where phpMyAdmin is publicly accessible.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked path information can serve as a foundation for more sophisticated attacks. Attackers can use the revealed system paths to craft targeted attacks against specific file locations, potentially leading to privilege escalation, local file inclusion vulnerabilities, or other path-based exploits. The exposure of full system paths enables threat actors to understand the application's deployment structure, identify potential weak points in the file system hierarchy, and plan subsequent attack vectors. This vulnerability particularly affects web applications that rely on phpMyAdmin for database management, as it provides attackers with detailed insights into the hosting environment that could otherwise remain hidden.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including applying the relevant security patches for phpMyAdmin versions 4.0.10.13, 4.4.15.3, and 4.5.4, which address the root cause by implementing proper error handling that prevents path disclosure. Additional defensive measures include configuring web server error handling to suppress detailed error messages, implementing proper input validation and sanitization, and monitoring for suspicious request patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malformed requests designed to trigger the vulnerability, as well as conducting regular security assessments to identify other potential information disclosure vulnerabilities within the application stack. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1083, "File and Directory Discovery," as the leaked path information directly aids in reconnaissance activities that attackers use to map system structures and plan further attacks.