Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2020-22452 is a critical SQL injection reported in phpMyAdmin 5.x before 5.2.0. If exposed, an attacker may be able to manipulate database queries through specific table-creation parameters. The source bundle does not show active exploitation, but the impact rating is severe.
Executive priority
Treat as urgent for any exposed phpMyAdmin deployment because the CVSS score and impact are critical. Prioritize inventory, version confirmation, upgrade planning, and access restriction.
Technical view
The CVE describes SQL injection in phpMyAdmin's getTableCreationQuery function in CreateAddField.php, reachable through tbl_storage_engine or tbl_collation parameters to tbl_create.php. CVSS 3.1 is 9.8, with network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Most relevant exposure is phpMyAdmin 5.x installations before 5.2.0, especially if reachable from untrusted networks. The source bundle's affected CPE data is incomplete, so inventory confirmation is required.
Exploitation context
The provided KEV flag is false, and the bundle includes no cited evidence of active exploitation. Public GitHub issue and pull request references indicate the vulnerability details and remediation history are publicly visible.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to the CVE description, GitHub issue, GitHub pull request, and changelog reference. The bundle does not provide affected CPEs, exploit confirmation, or detailed operational mitigations beyond the version boundary.
Mitigation direction
- Identify phpMyAdmin instances and confirm exact versions.
- Upgrade affected phpMyAdmin 5.x deployments to 5.2.0 or later per vendor guidance.
- Restrict phpMyAdmin access to trusted administrative networks where possible.
- Review database and web logs for suspicious table-creation activity.
- Track the phpMyAdmin changelog and CVE record for updated guidance.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether phpMyAdmin is installed and externally reachable.
- Check whether any deployment runs phpMyAdmin 5.x before 5.2.0.
- Review configuration exposure for tbl_create.php access paths.
- Verify remediation by confirming the installed phpMyAdmin version after upgrade.
- Check whether compensating access controls limit untrusted network access.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-89: Database access and collection lookup
Injection into data stores can inform collection, data access, and exfiltration detection reviews. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupDatabase behavior lookup
The CVE wording references database injection or access, so collection and exfiltration review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2020-22452 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Critical
- CVSS
- 9.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H3.95.9CISA-ADPVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
9.8CriticalVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://github.com/phpmyadmin/phpmyadmin/issues/15898CVE reference, mitre
- https://github.com/phpmyadmin/phpmyadmin/pull/16004CVE reference, mitre
- https://github.com/phpmyadmin/phpmyadmin/blob/master/ChangeLogCVE reference, mitre
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.