phpMyAdmin: Vulnerability in MIME-based transformation system

1. Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

Advisory Reference	GLSA 200410-14 / phpMyAdmin
Release Date	October 18, 2004
Latest Revision	May 22, 2006: 02
Impact	high
Exploitable	remote

Package	Vulnerable versions	Unaffected versions	Architecture(s)
dev-db/phpmyadmin	< 2.6.0_p2	>= 2.6.0_p2	All supported architectures

Related bugreports: #67409

Synopsis

A vulnerability has been found in the MIME-based transformation system of phpMyAdmin, which may allow remote execution of arbitrary commands if PHP's "safe mode" is disabled.

2. Impact Information

Background

phpMyAdmin is a popular web-based MySQL administration tool written in PHP. It allows users to browse and administer a MySQL database from a web-browser. Transformations are a phpMyAdmin feature allowing plug-ins to rewrite the contents of any column seen in phpMyAdmin's Browsing mode, including using insertion of PHP or JavaScript code.

Description

A defect was found in phpMyAdmin's MIME-based transformation system, when used with "external" transformations.

Impact

A remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary commands on the server with the rights of the HTTP server user.

3. Resolution Information

Workaround

Enabling PHP safe mode ("safe_mode = On" in php.ini) may serve as a temporary workaround.

Resolution

All phpMyAdmin users should upgrade to the latest version:

Code Listing 3.1: Resolution

# emerge sync

# emerge -pv ">=dev-db/phpmyadmin-2.6.0_p2"
# emerge ">=dev-db/phpmyadmin-2.6.0_p2"

4. References

Page updated October 18, 2004

Summary: This is a Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

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