CVE-2016-6616 in phpMyAdmin
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in phpMyAdmin. In the "User group" and "Designer" features, a user can execute an SQL injection attack against the account of the control user. All 4.6.x versions (prior to 4.6.4) and 4.4.x versions (prior to 4.4.15.8) are affected.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/05/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-6616 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within phpMyAdmin's user group and designer functionalities. This security weakness specifically targets the control user account, which serves as a privileged administrative interface for managing database connections and user permissions. The vulnerability affects multiple version streams including all 4.6.x releases before 4.6.4 and 4.4.x versions prior to 4.4.15.8, indicating a widespread impact across the phpMyAdmin user base. The control user account typically possesses elevated privileges and can execute administrative commands, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could allow unauthorized attackers to gain elevated access to database management systems.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient input validation within the user group and designer features where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into SQL queries without proper sanitization or parameterization. This allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands through carefully crafted inputs that are processed by the application's backend database engine. When users interact with the affected features, the application fails to properly escape or validate parameters passed to database queries, creating an avenue for attackers to manipulate the underlying SQL execution flow. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for valid accounts and T1566.001 for credential access through social engineering.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or modification, as it can enable complete compromise of database management systems. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could potentially execute commands as the control user, gain access to all databases managed by phpMyAdmin, escalate privileges to full administrative control, and manipulate or destroy database content. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it leverages legitimate administrative features of phpMyAdmin, making detection more difficult and potentially allowing attackers to maintain persistent access. Organizations using affected versions face significant risk of unauthorized database access, data breaches, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure, as database administrators often have broad access to sensitive information systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-6616 primarily focus on immediate version upgrades to patched releases, specifically updating to phpMyAdmin 4.6.4 or 4.4.15.8 and later versions where the vulnerability has been addressed. System administrators should also implement network segmentation to limit access to phpMyAdmin interfaces, particularly restricting access to trusted IP ranges and implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts. Additional protective measures include monitoring database logs for suspicious SQL queries, implementing web application firewalls to detect injection attempts, and conducting regular security assessments of database management interfaces. Organizations should also consider disabling unnecessary features and implementing principle of least privilege for control user accounts, ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to the vulnerable administrative functions. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of keeping database management tools updated and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against credential-based attacks targeting administrative interfaces.