CVE-2016-6619 in phpMyAdmin
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in phpMyAdmin. In the user interface preference feature, 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), 4.4.x versions (prior to 4.4.15.8), and 4.0.x versions (prior to 4.0.10.17) are affected.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/05/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-6619 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the phpMyAdmin web-based database management interface. This issue specifically targets the user interface preference feature, which serves as a mechanism for users to customize their dashboard experience and save configuration settings. The control user account, which possesses elevated privileges and administrative capabilities within the phpMyAdmin environment, becomes the primary target for this attack vector. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the preference handling code, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands that execute within the context of the control user's privileges.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of user interface preference parameters that are not properly escaped or validated before being incorporated into SQL queries. When users save their interface preferences, the application constructs SQL statements that include user-supplied data without adequate sanitization measures. This creates an environment where attackers can inject malicious SQL fragments that bypass normal security controls and execute with the privileges of the control user account. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it leverages legitimate application functionality to achieve unauthorized code execution, making detection more challenging.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or modification, as it provides attackers with elevated privileges within the database management environment. Successful exploitation can lead to complete compromise of the database server, including unauthorized access to sensitive data, privilege escalation to administrative accounts, and potential lateral movement within the network infrastructure. The control user account typically has broad permissions including the ability to create new users, modify existing accounts, and access all database objects, making this vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors. The widespread adoption of phpMyAdmin across various organizations means that a single unpatched instance can serve as an entry point for larger-scale attacks.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through patching to versions 4.6.4, 4.4.15.8, or 4.0.10.17, respectively. Security teams should implement network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious preference-setting activities and consider implementing additional access controls around the phpMyAdmin interface. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which catalogs SQL injection flaws, and represents a classic example of how web application vulnerabilities can be exploited to achieve privilege escalation. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence, as attackers can establish long-term access through compromised control accounts. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their phpMyAdmin installations to identify any other potential vulnerabilities in the application's authentication and authorization mechanisms, ensuring that all database management interfaces are properly secured against similar attack vectors.