CVE-2017-1000017 in phpMyAdmin
Summary
by MITRE
phpMyAdmin 4.0, 4.4 and 4.6 are vulnerable to a weakness where a user with appropriate permissions is able to connect to an arbitrary MySQL server
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/01/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1000017 affects phpMyAdmin versions 4.0, 4.4, and 4.6, representing a significant security flaw that allows authenticated users to establish connections to arbitrary MySQL servers. This weakness stems from insufficient input validation and improper access control mechanisms within the application's database connection handling functionality. The vulnerability specifically impacts the way phpMyAdmin processes server connection parameters, creating an opportunity for privilege escalation and unauthorized data access. According to CWE-284, this issue manifests as an improper access control condition where legitimate users can bypass normal security boundaries to connect to databases they should not have access to. The flaw exists in the application's configuration handling system, where user-supplied connection details are not adequately validated before being used to establish database connections.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to possess valid credentials for accessing phpMyAdmin, as the flaw operates within the context of authenticated sessions. However, once authenticated, the malicious user can manipulate connection parameters to redirect database connections to alternative MySQL servers. This typically involves exploiting the application's ability to accept custom server hostnames, ports, and authentication credentials through its interface. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be leveraged to access databases on different servers, potentially leading to data exfiltration, unauthorized database modifications, or lateral movement within a network infrastructure. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation technique under T1078 Valid Accounts, where attackers leverage legitimate credentials to access additional systems. The impact extends beyond simple data access, as successful exploitation can lead to full database compromise, including the ability to execute arbitrary SQL commands, modify database schemas, or extract sensitive information from connected systems.
Organizations running affected phpMyAdmin versions face substantial operational risks, particularly in environments where database administrators have broad access rights. The vulnerability can be exploited to access databases containing sensitive information such as user credentials, personal data, financial records, or proprietary business information. Network administrators must consider the potential for lateral movement within their infrastructure, as compromised phpMyAdmin instances can serve as entry points to other connected systems. The vulnerability's impact is further amplified in multi-tenant environments or shared hosting scenarios where multiple users access the same phpMyAdmin instance. Security teams should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to patched versions of phpMyAdmin, implementing network segmentation to isolate database access, and monitoring for suspicious connection patterns. Additionally, organizations should enforce strict access controls and audit database connection attempts to detect unauthorized access attempts. The remediation process requires careful consideration of existing configurations and potential impacts on legitimate business operations while ensuring comprehensive protection against this specific vulnerability.