CVE-2016-5704 in phpMyAdmin
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the table-structure page in phpMyAdmin 4.6.x before 4.6.3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors involving a comment.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5704 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within phpMyAdmin's table-structure page functionality. This issue affects versions 4.6.x prior to 4.6.3 and specifically targets the application's handling of user-supplied comments during table structure modifications. The flaw enables remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code through carefully crafted comment inputs, potentially compromising the security of users interacting with the vulnerable application.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is a fundamental web application security weakness that occurs when an application includes untrusted data in web pages without proper validation or escaping mechanisms. The attack vector specifically exploits the table-structure page where users can add comments to database tables, making this a server-side input validation failure that allows malicious code execution in the context of the victim's browser. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates within a database management interface where users typically have elevated privileges and access to sensitive data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive information, redirect users to malicious websites, or execute arbitrary commands within the browser context of authenticated users. When users with administrative privileges interact with the vulnerable table-structure page, the attacker can potentially gain access to database contents, modify table structures, or escalate privileges within the application. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious content and T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter execution through web-based attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should immediately upgrade to phpMyAdmin version 4.6.3 or later where the XSS vulnerability has been patched. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers, sanitizing all user inputs, and ensuring proper HTML escaping in all output contexts can provide defense-in-depth measures. Network segmentation and access controls should limit exposure of phpMyAdmin interfaces to trusted users only, while regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other web applications. The fix implemented in the patched version demonstrates proper input sanitization techniques that prevent malicious script execution by ensuring that comment inputs are properly escaped before being rendered in the user interface.