CVE-2020-5504Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Authenticated SQL injection via unescaped username parameter

Published Jan 9, 2020 · Updated Apr 16, 2025

SQL injection in phpMyAdmin 4.0.0 through 4.9.3 and 5.0.0 allows remote authenticated users to execute custom SQL via a crafted username. In libraries/classes/Server/Privileges.php, the validate_username branch directly concatenates the username query parameter into a mysql.user SELECT statement without escaping it. A valid MySQL account and authenticated phpMyAdmin session are required, and database access remains bounded by that account's privileges.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability38.78%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

SQL injection in phpMyAdmin 4.0.0 through 4.9.3 and 5.0.0 allows remote authenticated users to execute custom SQL via a crafted username. In libraries/classes/Server/Privileges.php, the validate_username branch directly concatenates the username query parameter into a mysql.user SELECT statement without escaping it. A valid MySQL account and authenticated phpMyAdmin session are required, and database access remains bounded by that account's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-5504
Published
Jan 9, 2020
Updated
Apr 16, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-89, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 9, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 16, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

6.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P
8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-89Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

Public exploit references

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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