CVE-2016-6627 in phpMyAdmin
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in phpMyAdmin. An attacker can determine the phpMyAdmin host location through the file url.php. 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-2016-6627 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within phpMyAdmin, a widely used web-based database management tool that serves as the de facto standard interface for MySQL database administration across numerous web hosting environments. This vulnerability specifically affects the url.php file within phpMyAdmin's codebase, creating a significant security risk that could expose sensitive system information to unauthorized parties. The affected versions span across multiple release branches including 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, indicating this flaw persisted across several major releases and maintained relevance for an extended period. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of file paths and URL construction within the application's internal routing mechanisms, creating a situation where an attacker can extract the server's phpMyAdmin installation path through crafted requests to the url.php endpoint.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within CWE-200, which encompasses information exposure issues, and more specifically aligns with CWE-444 related to improper handling of HTTP requests and URL parsing. The flaw operates by allowing an attacker to manipulate the url.php file through parameter injection or manipulation techniques that cause the application to reveal its installation directory structure. This occurs because the application fails to properly sanitize or validate input parameters that are used to construct file paths or URL references, creating an information disclosure channel that can be exploited to gain insights into the server's file system layout. The vulnerability essentially acts as a directory traversal mechanism that exposes internal application paths, potentially revealing sensitive information about the installation environment, server configuration, and underlying file system structure. This type of information disclosure can significantly aid attackers in planning more sophisticated attacks by providing knowledge of the application's internal architecture and file locations.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-6627 extends far beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates a foundation for more severe attacks that can compromise entire database environments. When an attacker can determine the phpMyAdmin host location, they gain valuable reconnaissance data that can be leveraged in subsequent attack phases. This information disclosure can enable attackers to perform more targeted attacks such as directory traversal exploits, local file inclusion vulnerabilities, or even direct path manipulation attacks against other components of the web application stack. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on phpMyAdmin for database administration, as it creates an attack vector that can be exploited to compromise database servers that are otherwise protected by other security measures. The widespread adoption of phpMyAdmin across various hosting environments means that this vulnerability could potentially affect thousands of systems, making it a significant concern for security professionals managing multiple database installations.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement the recommended security patches that were released as part of phpMyAdmin version 4.6.4, 4.4.15.8, and 4.0.10.17 respectively. The mitigation strategy should include immediate patching of all affected installations, followed by comprehensive security audits to ensure no other related vulnerabilities exist within the phpMyAdmin deployment. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit access to phpMyAdmin interfaces, particularly in environments where the application is exposed to untrusted networks. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns of requests to url.php and other potentially vulnerable endpoints, as these may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their web applications and database management interfaces to identify and remediate similar information disclosure vulnerabilities that may exist within their infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices in web applications, particularly those handling sensitive database management functions, and serves as a reminder of the critical need for maintaining up-to-date security patches across all application components.