Overview
CVE-2025-60799 identifies a critical security vulnerability in phpPgAdmin version 7.13.0 and earlier. This vulnerability stems from improper access control within the sql.php file, allowing unauthorized manipulation of session variables. Exploitation of this flaw could lead to session poisoning, stored cross-site scripting (XSS), and unauthorized access to sensitive data. This poses a significant risk to systems using vulnerable versions of phpPgAdmin.
Technical Details
The vulnerability resides in the sql.php file, specifically around lines 68-76. The application accepts user-controlled parameters such as ‘subject’, ‘server’, ‘database’, and ‘queryid’ without proper validation or access control checks. This allows an attacker to manipulate the $_SESSION['sqlquery'] variable by injecting arbitrary SQL queries. By crafting malicious requests with these parameters, an attacker can effectively poison the user’s session with malicious SQL code.
Here’s a simplified example of the vulnerable code snippet (based on the provided reference):
// Vulnerable code snippet (Illustrative)
$subject = $_GET['subject'];
$server = $_GET['server'];
$database = $_GET['database'];
$queryid = $_GET['queryid'];
$_SESSION['sqlquery'][$queryid][$server][$database][$subject] = "...attacker controlled SQL..."; //Injected value
CVSS Analysis
Unfortunately, a CVSS score and severity level are not currently available for CVE-2025-60799. Given the potential for session poisoning and unauthorized data access, a thorough risk assessment is crucial. It is likely that a CVSS score, once calculated, would indicate a High or Critical severity. Monitor vulnerability databases for updates regarding the CVSS score.
Possible Impact
Successful exploitation of CVE-2025-60799 can have severe consequences:
- Session Poisoning: An attacker can inject malicious SQL queries into a user’s session, potentially leading to unauthorized database access or data manipulation.
- Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): The injected SQL queries could contain malicious JavaScript code that is later executed in the context of another user’s session.
- Unauthorized Access to Sensitive Data: An attacker could gain access to sensitive data stored in the database by manipulating the SQL queries executed through the poisoned session.
- Data Integrity Compromise: The attacker could modify or delete data within the database.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
The best course of action is to upgrade to a patched version of phpPgAdmin as soon as one becomes available. Until a patch is released, consider the following mitigation strategies:
- Disable phpPgAdmin: If possible, temporarily disable phpPgAdmin to prevent exploitation.
- Web Application Firewall (WAF): Implement a WAF with rules to detect and block malicious requests attempting to exploit this vulnerability. Configure WAF to sanitize the incoming parameters ‘subject’, ‘server’, ‘database’, and ‘queryid’.
- Input Validation: If disabling phpPgAdmin is not an option, implement strict input validation on the ‘subject’, ‘server’, ‘database’, and ‘queryid’ parameters. Ensure that these parameters conform to expected values and do not contain potentially malicious characters or SQL code. This may require code-level changes to phpPgAdmin itself, which should be done with extreme caution.
- Monitor Logs: Closely monitor web server and database logs for suspicious activity that may indicate an attempted exploitation.
