Description
phpMyAdmin 3.5.x before 3.5.8 and 4.x before 4.0.0-rc3 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code via a /e\x00 sequence, which is not properly handled before making a preg_replace function call within the "Replace table prefix" feature.
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.
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | phpMyAdmin | 4.6.5.2-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10054-1 |
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.
Metasploit 1 module
-
phpMyAdmin Authenticated Remote Code Execution via preg_replace()
exploit/multi/http/phpmyadmin_preg_replace
Exploit-DB 2
- phpMyAdmin - 'preg_replace' (Authenticated) Remote Code Execution (Metasploit) EDB-25136 · remote · May 1, 2013 · verified
- phpMyAdmin 3.5.8/4.0.0-RC2 - Multiple Vulnerabilities EDB-25003 · webapps · Apr 25, 2013 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 1
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10054-1 phpMyAdmin-4.6.5.2-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- MDVSA-2013:160 vendor-advisory
- 20130424 [waraxe-2013-SA#103] - Multiple Vulnerabilities in phpMyAdmin mailing-list
- FEDORA-2013-6928 vendor-advisory
- 25136 exploit
- openSUSE-SU-2013:1065 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2013-6977 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2013-7000 vendor-advisory
- https://github.com/phpmyadmin/phpmyadmin/commit/ffa720d90a79c1f33cf4c5a33403d09a67b42a66
- https://github.com/phpmyadmin/phpmyadmin/commit/dedd542cdaf1606ca9aa3f6f8f8adb078d8ad549
- https://wiki.mageia.org/en/Support/Advisories/MGASA-2013-0133
- http://www.phpmyadmin.net/home_page/security/PMASA-2013-2.php