CVE-2018-12581 in phpMyAdmin
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in js/designer/move.js in phpMyAdmin before 4.8.2. A Cross-Site Scripting vulnerability has been found where an attacker can use a crafted database name to trigger an XSS attack when that database is referenced from the Designer feature.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/23/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-12581 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within phpMyAdmin's designer feature, specifically affecting versions prior to 4.8.2. This security weakness resides in the js/designer/move.js file and demonstrates how web applications can expose users to malicious code execution through improper input validation mechanisms. The issue manifests when an attacker crafts a specially designed database name that, upon being referenced within the Designer feature, triggers an XSS payload execution in the victim's browser context.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user-provided database names within the javascript code responsible for handling designer operations. When phpMyAdmin processes database names in the designer interface, it fails to properly escape or validate input data before incorporating it into dynamic javascript constructs. This oversight creates an environment where maliciously crafted database names containing script tags or other malicious payloads can be executed within the browser of any user who views or interacts with the designer feature. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web page content without adequate validation or encoding.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it provides attackers with a vector to execute arbitrary javascript code within the context of authenticated phpMyAdmin sessions. This means that an attacker could potentially escalate privileges, modify database structures, access sensitive information, or even propagate malware through compromised user sessions. The attack requires minimal user interaction beyond accessing the designer feature with a maliciously crafted database name, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where database names might be shared or imported from external sources. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of phpMyAdmin's visual database design capabilities, which are commonly used by database administrators and developers for complex database schema management.
Organizations utilizing phpMyAdmin versions prior to 4.8.2 should implement immediate mitigations including mandatory patching to the latest stable release, which contains proper input validation and sanitization measures. Additional defensive measures include implementing content security policies that restrict script execution within the application context, disabling the designer feature for untrusted users, and conducting regular security audits of database naming conventions. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for scripting languages and T1566 for malicious file execution, highlighting the potential for lateral movement and privilege escalation through successful exploitation. System administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious javascript payloads attempting to leverage this vulnerability, while maintaining comprehensive logging of designer feature usage to detect potential exploitation attempts.