CVE-2020-5504
📋 TL;DR
This SQL injection vulnerability in phpMyAdmin allows authenticated attackers to inject malicious SQL queries through the username field on the user accounts page. Attackers can potentially read, modify, or delete database data. Only users with valid MySQL credentials can exploit this vulnerability.
💻 Affected Systems
- phpMyAdmin
📦 What is this software?
Phpmyadmin by Phpmyadmin
Phpmyadmin by Phpmyadmin
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete database compromise including data theft, modification, or deletion; potential privilege escalation to database administrator; possible server compromise if database permissions allow file system access.
Likely Case
Unauthorized data access and manipulation within the attacker's privilege scope; extraction of sensitive information from accessible database tables.
If Mitigated
Limited impact due to proper access controls and network segmentation; attacker confined to their own database privileges.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires authenticated access; proof-of-concept code is publicly available; SQL injection is a well-understood attack vector.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: phpMyAdmin 4.9.4 or 5.0.1
Vendor Advisory: https://www.phpmyadmin.net/security/PMASA-2020-1/
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Backup your phpMyAdmin configuration and database. 2. Download the patched version from phpmyadmin.net. 3. Replace the existing phpMyAdmin installation with the patched version. 4. Verify the installation works correctly.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict Access
allLimit phpMyAdmin access to trusted IP addresses only
# In Apache: Require ip 192.168.1.0/24
# In Nginx: allow 192.168.1.0/24; deny all;
Disable User Accounts Page
allRemove or restrict access to the vulnerable user accounts functionality
# Add to phpMyAdmin config.inc.php: $cfg['Servers'][$i]['AllowUserManagement'] = false;
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict network access controls to limit phpMyAdmin access to authorized users only
- Apply principle of least privilege to MySQL user accounts to limit potential damage
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check phpMyAdmin version in the interface footer or via version.php fileCheck Version:
grep -i 'version' /path/to/phpmyadmin/libraries/classes/Version.php | head -1Verify Fix Applied:
Confirm phpMyAdmin version is 4.9.4+ or 5.0.1+ and test user account functionality📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual SQL queries in MySQL logs
- Multiple failed login attempts followed by user account modifications
- SQL syntax errors in phpMyAdmin logs
Network Indicators:
- SQL injection patterns in HTTP requests to phpMyAdmin
- Unusual database query patterns from phpMyAdmin IP
SIEM Query:
source="phpmyadmin.log" AND ("user accounts" OR "CREATE USER" OR "ALTER USER") AND (UNION SELECT OR 1=1 OR ' OR ")🔗 References
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-01/msg00024.html
- https://cybersecurityworks.com/zerodays/cve-2020-5504-phpmyadmin.html
- https://github.com/MarkLee131/awesome-web-pocs/blob/main/CVE-2020-5504.md
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/01/msg00011.html
- https://www.phpmyadmin.net/security/PMASA-2020-1/
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-01/msg00024.html
- https://cybersecurityworks.com/zerodays/cve-2020-5504-phpmyadmin.html
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/01/msg00011.html
- https://www.phpmyadmin.net/security/PMASA-2020-1/
