# CVE-2012-5159: Code injection in n/a

> A trojanized phpMyAdmin mirror allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via eval injection in server_sync.php.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 25 Sep 2012
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-g39j-4qc9-5rh4

## What is CVE-2012-5159?

CVE-2012-5159 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Phpmyadmin Phpmyadmin, published on 25 Sep 2012. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

phpMyAdmin 3.5.2.2, as distributed by the cdnetworks-kr-1 mirror during an unspecified time frame in 2012, contains an externally introduced modification (Trojan Horse) in server_sync.php, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via an eval injection attack.

Weakness: CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2012-5159?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Phpmyadmin Phpmyadmin.

## How do I fix CVE-2012-5159?

No fix has been published for CVE-2012-5159 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2012-5159 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2012-5159 exists.

Public exploit code:

- phpMyAdmin 3.5.2.2 server_sync.php Backdoor (metasploit)
- phpMyAdmin 3.5.2.2 - 'server_sync.php' Backdoor (Metasploit) (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Phpmyadmin Phpmyadmin

- [CVE-2008-7251](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-7251/): Misconfiguration in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2008-7252](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-7252/): phpMyAdmin unsafely handles temporary files (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2007-0203](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2007-0203/): Other in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2004-1147](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-1147/): Command injection in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2020-22452](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-22452/): phpmyadmin contains SQL Injection vulnerability (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2012-5159 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2012-5159 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Phpmyadmin Phpmyadmin, published on 25 Sep 2012. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2012-5159 exists.

Affected product: Phpmyadmin Phpmyadmin. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-5159/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-5159/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2012-5159
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-5159
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2012-5159

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-5159/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.