Cyber Resilience

CVE-2016-5734

RCE in Phpmyadmin 4.0.0 … 4.6.2

Public PoCHigh EPSSRCE
Published
03 July 2016
Modified
06 May 2026
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3 9.8
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.81 99.6th percentile
Risk Priority 97 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2016-5734 is a critical-severity Code Injection (CWE-94) vulnerability in Phpmyadmin Phpmyadmin. Its CVSS base score is 9.8 (Critical).

Operationally, ranked in the top 0.4% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

phpMyAdmin 4.0.x before 4.0.10.16, 4.4.x before 4.4.15.7, and 4.6.x before 4.6.3 does not properly choose delimiters to prevent use of the preg_replace e (aka eval) modifier, which might allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via a crafted string,…

more

as demonstrated by the table search-and-replace implementation.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

Likely ATT&CK TechniquesAI

Techniques this vulnerability likely enables, inferred from its description, weakness type, and attributed-actor tradecraft. Confidence is per-technique.

T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Accessconfidence: HIGH
Remote code execution via crafted input to a publicly accessible PHP application directly enables exploitation of a public-facing web app.
T1059.006 Python Executionconfidence: HIGH
The vulnerability allows arbitrary PHP code execution through the preg_replace /e modifier, enabling the attacker to run PHP commands on the server.
inferred from description + CWE · MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v19.0

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2018-12613Same product: Phpmyadmin Phpmyadmin
CVE-2023-25727Same product: Phpmyadmin Phpmyadmin
CVE-2009-1151Same product: Phpmyadmin Phpmyadmin
CVE-2024-6936Shared CWE-94
CVE-2026-34965Shared CWE-94
CVE-2026-41414Shared CWE-94
CVE-2026-25856Shared CWE-94
CVE-2025-33251Shared CWE-94
CVE-2026-26954Shared CWE-94
CVE-2023-4291Shared CWE-94

Affected Assets

phpmyadmin
phpmyadmin
4.0.0, 4.0.1, 4.0.10, 4.0.10.1, 4.0.10.10

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)

Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V1.3.1

Likely Mitigating Controls AI

Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.

addresses: CWE-94

Makes persistent code injection into loaded programs impossible when the executable image itself resides on hardware-protected read-only media.

addresses: CWE-94

Dynamically generated code can be produced and executed inside the isolated chamber, preventing host compromise from code-injection payloads.

addresses: CWE-94

Validates inputs used in dynamic code generation to block injected directives.

addresses: CWE-94

Directly prevents execution of attacker-supplied code written into data memory regions.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-06 mostly match
prevents

PR.PS-06's SDLC practices directly target injection flaws via secure coding and testing (mostly), yet as a single broad outcome it leaves many code-generation specifics unaddressed (partial).

PR.DS-10 none match
prevents

PR.DS-10 protects runtime data confidentiality/integrity but has no bearing on neutralizing externally influenced input during code generation, so neither direction shows any preventive effect.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

prevents

Banning unapproved code samples and unauthenticated web services, combined with secure-coding standards and SAST, prevents the dynamic generation or inclusion of attacker-supplied code.

none

Controls that restrict unauthorized or malicious code from being introduced via external networks or removable media limit opportunities for an attacker to inject and execute arbitrary code.

References