CVE-2016-5705 in phpMyAdmin
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in phpMyAdmin 4.4.x before 4.4.15.7 and 4.6.x before 4.6.3 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors involving (1) server-privileges certificate data fields on the user privileges page, (2) an "invalid JSON" error message in the error console, (3) a database name in the central columns implementation, (4) a group name, or (5) a search name in the bookmarks implementation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2022
The CVE-2016-5705 vulnerability represents a significant cross-site scripting flaw affecting phpMyAdmin versions 4.4.x prior to 4.4.15.7 and 4.6.x prior to 4.6.3. This vulnerability classifies under CWE-79 as it involves the improper handling of untrusted input in web applications, creating opportunities for malicious code injection. The flaw exists within the database management interface that administrators use to interact with mysql databases, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by remote attackers without requiring authentication. The vulnerability impacts multiple components within phpMyAdmin's user interface, specifically targeting privilege management, error handling, and bookmarking functionalities.
The technical exploitation occurs through five distinct vectors that all involve improper sanitization of user-supplied input. The first vector targets server-privileges certificate data fields on the user privileges page, where attackers can inject malicious scripts into certificate information fields that are later rendered to authenticated users. The second vector exploits an "invalid JSON" error message in the error console, demonstrating how error handling code fails to properly escape output. The third vector affects database names in the central columns implementation, where database identifiers are not adequately sanitized before display. The fourth vector targets group names, while the fifth targets search names in the bookmarks implementation, both of which suffer from similar input validation failures. These vectors collectively demonstrate a pattern of insufficient output escaping and input validation throughout the application's user interface components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code in the context of authenticated users' browsers. This creates opportunities for session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration attacks. Attackers could potentially escalate privileges by injecting malicious code that targets the phpMyAdmin interface, or they could use the vulnerability to redirect users to malicious sites or steal sensitive database information. The vulnerability affects any user with access to the phpMyAdmin interface, including database administrators who may have elevated privileges, making it particularly dangerous for production environments. Organizations using vulnerable versions of phpMyAdmin face risks of unauthorized access, data breaches, and potential system compromise through this persistent XSS flaw.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-5705 require immediate patching of affected phpMyAdmin versions to the recommended secure releases. Organizations should upgrade to phpMyAdmin 4.4.15.7 or 4.6.3 and later versions that contain the necessary input validation and output escaping fixes. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of phpMyAdmin interfaces to trusted networks only. Additionally, implementing content security policies and input validation at multiple layers can provide defense-in-depth protection. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts through unusual patterns in user interface interactions. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1059.008 for scripting languages and T1566 for credential access highlights the importance of comprehensive security monitoring and incident response procedures. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar input validation flaws in other web applications and systems.