CVE-2016-6608 in phpMyAdmin
Summary
by MITRE
XSS issues were discovered in phpMyAdmin. This affects the database privilege check and the "Remove partitioning" functionality. Specially crafted database names can trigger the XSS attack. All 4.6.x versions (prior to 4.6.4) are affected.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/23/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-6608 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within phpMyAdmin that specifically impacts version 4.6.x prior to 4.6.4. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's privilege checking system and partition removal functionality. The flaw allows malicious actors to inject malicious scripts through specially crafted database names, exploiting the application's failure to properly sanitize user-supplied input before rendering it in web responses. The vulnerability manifests in two primary attack vectors: the database privilege check mechanism and the "Remove partitioning" feature, both of which fail to adequately escape or validate user-provided data. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a critical security weakness in web applications. The attack surface is particularly concerning because phpMyAdmin serves as a widely used database administration tool that provides direct access to database systems, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise database environments.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious database name containing script tags or other malicious payloads that are then processed by phpMyAdmin's privilege checking or partition removal functions. When the application displays these database names in web interfaces, the unescaped user input executes as JavaScript within the context of the victim's browser session. This allows attackers to perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or executing arbitrary commands on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable privilege escalation attacks, particularly when combined with other weaknesses in the application's authentication and authorization mechanisms. The attack requires minimal privileges to execute since phpMyAdmin's interface is accessible to users with database access rights, making it particularly dangerous in environments where database administrators have elevated permissions. The flaw demonstrates a classic lack of proper output encoding that violates fundamental web security principles and represents a failure in the application's input sanitization processes.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-6608 is significant for organizations relying on phpMyAdmin for database administration, as successful exploitation can lead to complete compromise of database environments. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to database systems, potentially leading to data exfiltration, modification of sensitive information, or complete system compromise. The vulnerability's presence in the 4.6.x series means that organizations running these versions face an elevated risk of exploitation, particularly in environments where phpMyAdmin is exposed to untrusted users or where database administrators have broad access rights. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through legitimate database management operations, making it difficult to detect and prevent through traditional security monitoring approaches. Organizations may experience unauthorized access to database content, potential data breaches, and compromised database integrity, all of which can result in significant financial and reputational damage. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566.001 for Phishing, as it enables attackers to execute malicious code through web-based interfaces and potentially gain access to sensitive database information.
The recommended mitigation strategy for CVE-2016-6608 involves immediate upgrading to phpMyAdmin version 4.6.4 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the XSS vulnerabilities in both the privilege checking and partition removal functionalities. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as input validation at multiple layers, proper output encoding for all user-supplied data, and regular security assessments of web applications. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of phpMyAdmin interfaces to trusted users only, reducing the attack surface available to potential adversaries. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious database name patterns and unusual administrative activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The patch addresses the root cause by implementing proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms that prevent malicious script injection in the application's privilege checking and partition removal functions. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and additional security controls to provide defense-in-depth protection against similar vulnerabilities. Regular vulnerability assessments and security updates are essential to maintain protection against evolving threats targeting database administration tools.