CVE-2016-5730 in phpMyAdmin
Summary
by MITRE
phpMyAdmin 4.0.x before 4.0.10.16, 4.4.x before 4.4.15.7, and 4.6.x before 4.6.3 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via vectors involving (1) an array value to FormDisplay.php, (2) incorrect data to validate.php, (3) unexpected data to Validator.php, (4) a missing config directory during setup, or (5) an incorrect OpenID identifier data type, which reveals the full path in an error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5730 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within phpMyAdmin versions spanning multiple release lines including 4.0.x before 4.0.10.16, 4.4.x before 4.4.15.7, and 4.6.x before 4.6.3. This vulnerability stems from improper error handling mechanisms that expose sensitive system information through various attack vectors involving form validation and configuration processes. The flaw manifests when phpMyAdmin encounters malformed data during different stages of its operation, specifically during form processing, data validation, and setup procedures. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-200, which deals with improper information exposure, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1212 for data manipulation and information gathering.
The technical exploitation occurs through multiple pathways that collectively enable attackers to harvest full system paths from error messages generated by the application. The first vector involves passing array values to FormDisplay.php, where the application fails to properly sanitize or validate incoming data structures, resulting in error messages that reveal the complete file path to the web root. The second pathway involves incorrect data being sent to validate.php, where improper validation logic allows malicious inputs to trigger error conditions that disclose system information. The third vector targets Validator.php with unexpected data inputs that cause the validation routines to produce error messages containing full path information. Additionally, the vulnerability exploits a missing configuration directory during setup procedures, where phpMyAdmin fails to properly handle missing directories and instead displays full paths in error messages. The fifth vector involves incorrect OpenID identifier data types that cause type coercion errors, leading to information disclosure through error output. These attack vectors collectively represent a sophisticated information disclosure attack that can be leveraged by remote attackers to gain insights into the target system's filesystem structure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the revelation of full system paths provides attackers with critical reconnaissance data that can be used for subsequent exploitation attempts. The disclosed paths can reveal the exact directory structure, file locations, and potentially sensitive configuration details that would otherwise remain hidden from attackers. This information can be particularly valuable for attackers planning more sophisticated attacks, as it provides them with precise knowledge of the application's deployment environment. The vulnerability affects organizations using phpMyAdmin for database management, which is a widely deployed tool in web application environments, making the potential impact significant across numerous systems and deployments. The issue demonstrates poor error handling practices that violate security best practices and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1083 for file and directory discovery, as the vulnerability enables attackers to enumerate system resources through error message analysis.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through updating to patched versions of phpMyAdmin, specifically versions 4.0.10.16, 4.4.15.7, and 4.6.3 or later. The mitigation strategy should include implementing proper input validation and error handling mechanisms that prevent sensitive information from being exposed through error messages. Security configurations should be reviewed to ensure that error reporting is appropriately limited and that sensitive paths are not disclosed in user-facing error output. Additionally, organizations should implement monitoring for unusual error patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of defensive programming practices and proper error handling as outlined in security standards such as OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of phpMyAdmin interfaces to trusted networks only, reducing the attack surface for this and similar vulnerabilities.