# CVE-2013-4729: phpMyAdmin Global variables scope injection vulnerability

> Authenticated users can modify global configuration settings in phpMyAdmin by manipulating input data, potentially bypassing security controls.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.5 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:N/I:P/A:P`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 4 Jul 2013
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2013-4729, GHSA-x962-w72p-mv7q

## What is CVE-2013-4729?

CVE-2013-4729 is a medium-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Phpmyadmin Phpmyadmin, published on 4 Jul 2013. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

import.php in phpMyAdmin 4.x before 4.0.4.1 does not properly restrict the ability of input data to specify a file format, which allows remote authenticated users to modify the GLOBALS superglobal array, and consequently change the configuration, via a crafted request.

Weakness: CWE-264

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2013-4729?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including phpmyadmin/phpmyadmin. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `phpmyadmin/phpmyadmin` | Packagist | From 4.0 | 4.0.4.1 |
| `phpmyadmin/phpmyadmin` | Packagist | From 4.0 | 4.0.4.1 |

Products: Phpmyadmin Phpmyadmin.

## How do I fix CVE-2013-4729?

Upgrade phpmyadmin/phpmyadmin to 4.0.4.1 or later.

## Is CVE-2013-4729 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2013-4729 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## 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-2013-4729 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2013-4729 is a medium-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Phpmyadmin Phpmyadmin, published on 4 Jul 2013. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2013-4729 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- phpmyadmin/phpmyadmin (Packagist): affected from 4.0; fixed in 4.0.4.1
- phpmyadmin/phpmyadmin (Packagist): affected from 4.0; fixed in 4.0.4.1

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-2013-4729/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-4729/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2013-4729
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-4729
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2013-4729

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-4729/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.