CVE-2013-4462Network attack vector

Unauthenticated database access via direct plugin request

Published Jan 27, 2020 · Updated Aug 6, 2024

Authentication bypass in Portable phpMyAdmin before 1.3.1 allows remote attackers to access its database administration console. A direct request to the plugin directory skips WordPress authorization, while the plugin loads MySQL credentials from wp-config.php. No WordPress or database credentials are required, and access permits database operations allowed by the configured MySQL account.

CVSS severity9.1
Critical
EPSS probability2.81%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Authentication bypass in Portable phpMyAdmin before 1.3.1 allows remote attackers to access its database administration console. A direct request to the plugin directory skips WordPress authorization, while the plugin loads MySQL credentials from wp-config.php. No WordPress or database credentials are required, and access permits database operations allowed by the configured MySQL account.

The record

CVE
CVE-2013-4462
Published
Jan 27, 2020
Updated
Aug 6, 2024
Vendor
Portable phpMyAdmin Plugin authors
Product
Portable phpMyAdmin
Classifications
CWE-287, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 27, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 6, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=through at least 2013-10-22

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Portable phpMyAdmin Plugin authors · Portable phpMyAdminversion=through at least 2013-10-22

Published CVSS scores

9.1NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
6.4NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-287Improper Authentication
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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