phpMyAdmin Security Misconfiguration Scanner

phpMyAdmin is a widely used open-source administration tool for MySQL and MariaDB databases. It is used by developers, database administrators, and web hosts to manage and maintain databases over the web. With phpMyAdmin, users can execute SQL queries, and manage databases, tables, and fields, making database administration accessible through a user-friendly interface. This tool is essential in many web servers and hosting environments for database management tasks. phpMyAdmin is known for its flexibility, allowing users to perform a variety of database operations with ease. It supports multiple languages, which enhances its usability globally for database management.

The vulnerability detected by this scanner is a security misconfiguration that results in full path disclosure. This vulnerability occurs when phpMyAdmin is improperly configured to display file paths, potentially revealing sensitive information about the server's filesystem. Full path disclosure can happen when error display settings are enabled on the server and certain files are accessible. This can lead to information that may assist an attacker in formulating more targeted attacks. It is crucial for administrators to ensure that phpMyAdmin is configured securely to prevent such exposures. Security misconfigurations like this one can be easily mitigated with proper server configuration controls.

Technically, the vulnerability involves direct access to phpMyAdmin files, such as 'advisory_rules_generic.php', 'phpseclib/Crypt/AES.php', or 'phpseclib/Crypt/Rijndael.php'. If these files are accessible and error display is enabled, certain PHP errors may be triggered. These errors can inadvertently reveal filesystem paths due to full path disclosure flaws. The vulnerable endpoint is typically accessed via an HTTP GET request. The presence of specific error messages or keywords like "Fatal error" or "require_once" in the response body may indicate a vulnerability. Regular checks and updates are necessary to prevent such disclosures in web applications.

When this security misconfiguration is exploited, it could lead to the exposure of sensitive server information. Attackers might gain knowledge of the server's directory structure, which can be used to find further vulnerabilities. This information could assist in planning and executing more severe attacks, such as directory traversal or remote code execution. Although this vulnerability, on its own, might not allow direct exploitation of the server, it serves as a valuable reconnaissance tool for attackers. Therefore, protecting against full path disclosure is crucial in a comprehensive security strategy. Maintaining secure configurations can greatly reduce the risk of further exploitation.

REFERENCES

• https://shodan.io