Description
Encoded directory traversal vulnerability in phpPgAdmin 3.1 to 3.5.3 allows remote attackers to access arbitrary files via "%2e%2e%2f" (encoded dot dot) sequences in the formLanguage parameter.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | phppgadmin | 3.5.4-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | phppgadmin | 3.5.4-1 | — |
| Debian 3.1 | phppgadmin | 3.5.2-5 | DSA-759-1 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Exploit-DB 1
- phpPgAdmin 3.x - Login Form Directory Traversal EDB-25938 · webapps · Jul 5, 2005 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 1
- DSA-759-1 phppgadmin - missing input sanitising Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- DSA-759 vendor-advisory
- [Dailydave] 20050704 !!! pre-authenticated remote code inclusion vulnerability inside phppgadmin !!! mailing-list
- http://www.vuxml.org/freebsd/88188a8c-eff6-11d9-8310-0001020eed82.html
- 14142 vdb-entry
- 1014414 vdb-entry
- 16116 third-party-advisory
- http://sourceforge.net/project/shownotes.php?release_id=342261
- 15941 third-party-advisory