Gentoo Linux Security Advisory                           GLSA 200402-05
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
~                                            http://security.gentoo.org
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

~  Severity: Normal
~     Title: phpMyAdmin < 2.5.6-rc1 directory traversal attack
~      Date: February 17, 2004
~      Bugs: #40268
~        ID: 200402-05

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Synopsis
========

A vulnerability in phpMyAdmin which was not properly verifying user
generated input could lead to a directory traversal attack.

Description
===========

A component of the phpMyAdmin software package (export.php) does not
properly verify input that is passed to it from a remote user. Since the
input is used to include other files, it is possible to launch a
directory traversal attack.

Impact
======

Sensitive information could be gleaned from the server if an
attacker uses a malformed URL such as 
http://phpmyadmin.example.com/export.php?what=../../../[existing_file]

In this scenario, the script does not sanitize the "what" argument
passed to it, allowing directory traversal attacks to take place, and
disclosing the contents of files if the file is readable as the
web-server user.

Workaround
==========

The workaround is to either patch the export.php file using the
referenced CVS patch [ 1 ] or upgrade the software via Portage.

Resolution
==========

Users are encouraged to upgrade to phpMyAdmin-2.5.6_rc1:

~    # emerge sync
~    # emerge -pv ">=dev-db/phpmyadmin-2.5.6_rc1"
~    # emerge ">=dev-db/phpmyadmin-2.5.6_rc1"
~    # emerge clean

References
==========

[ 1 ] CVS Patch export.php of phpMyAdmin:
 
http://cvs.sourceforge.net/viewcvs.py/phpmyadmin/phpMyAdmin/export.php?r1=2.3&r2=2.3.2.1

Concerns?
=========

Security is a primary focus of Gentoo Linux and ensuring the
confidentiality and security of our users machines is of utmost
importance to us. Any security concerns should be addressed to
security@gentoo.org or alternatively, you may file a bug at 
http://bugs.gentoo.org.