CVE-2016-6621 Phpmyadmin CVE debrief

Who should care

Administrators running phpMyAdmin should prioritize this, especially if the setup script is reachable from any untrusted network. Security teams should also check for packaged or bundled phpMyAdmin deployments that may lag behind the fixed releases.

Technical summary

The vulnerable component is phpMyAdmin's setup script in releases before 4.0.10.19, 4.4.15.10, and 4.6.6. NVD assigns CVSS 3.0 AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N, indicating a remotely reachable issue that can cause the server to make attacker-influenced requests. The record classifies the weakness as CWE-918.

Defensive priority

High. The issue is remotely reachable, requires no authentication or user interaction, and carries a CVSS score of 8.6. Treat it as a priority remediation item for any exposed phpMyAdmin deployment.

Recommended defensive actions

• Upgrade phpMyAdmin to 4.0.10.19, 4.4.15.10, 4.6.6, or later supported releases.
• Verify that the setup script is not publicly reachable; restrict access to trusted administrative networks only.
• If phpMyAdmin is no longer needed, remove or disable the installation rather than leaving it exposed.
• Review outbound network controls from the web/application tier to reduce the impact of server-initiated requests.
• Check vendor and distro advisories for packaged phpMyAdmin versions and any backported fixes.

Evidence notes

The NVD description states that the phpMyAdmin setup script before 4.0.10.19, 4.4.x before 4.4.15.10, and 4.6.x before 4.6.6 allows remote attackers to conduct SSRF via unspecified vectors. NVD maps the weakness to CWE-918 and assigns CVSS 3.0 AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N. The reference set includes the phpMyAdmin vendor advisory, a Debian LTS notice, and a SecurityFocus entry.

Official resources