CVE-2016-6631

An issue was discovered in phpMyAdmin. A user can execute a remote code execution attack against a server when phpMyAdmin is being run as a CGI application. Under certain server configurations, a user can pass a query string which is executed as a command-line argument by the file generator_plugin.sh. All 4.6.x versions (prior to 4.6.4), 4.4.x versions (prior to 4.4.15.8), and 4.0.x versions (prior to 4.0.10.17) are affected.

Published: 2016-12-10 Last update: 2026-06-16 Assigner: [email protected] Source: [email protected]

Conclusion & alert: CVE-2016-6631 is rated Moderate Risk (62.4/100): CVSS High severity, with high exploitation likelihood (EPSS 4.77%, 91th percentile). Core evidence: EPSS ranks this CVE among the most likely to be exploited in the near term. Mandatory action: High exploitation likelihood—assess exposure and prioritize remediation.

Risk is dynamic; we continuously reassess and refresh what is shown on this page as upstream context changes.

Exploit prediction scoring system (EPSS) score for CVE-2016-6631

EPSS lead: Daily EPSS estimates relative likelihood of exploitation; percentile ranks this CVE among scored vulnerabilities (higher = more severe relative rank).

# Date Old EPSS score New EPSS score Delta (New - Old)
1 2026-06-15 4.16% 4.77% +0.61%
2 2026-05-27 3.57% 4.16% +0.59%
3 2025-08-14 3.57%

Full EPSS history (10 records total)

Common vulnerability scoring system (CVSS) metrics for CVE-2016-6631

CVSS metrics for this CVE.

Base score Version Severity Vector Exploitability Impact Score source
7.5 3.0 HIGH
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Click to expand
Attack vector (AV:N)
Could be attacked over the internet or any normal routed network—not just someone sitting at the machine.
Attack complexity (AC:H)
Even with access, the exploit needs extra luck, timing, or a fussy environment to actually work.
Privileges required (PR:L)
A normal user session is enough; they don’t have to be admin.
User interaction (UI:N)
Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping.
Scope (S:U)
Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems.
Confidentiality (C:H)
Serious risk that confidential data gets exposed in a big way.
Integrity (I:H)
They could widely tamper with or forge data—trust in the data is badly hurt.
Availability (A:H)
Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.
1.6 5.9 [email protected]
8.5 2.0 HIGH
AV:N/AC:M/Au:S/C:C/I:C/A:C Click to expand
Access vector (AV:N)
Can be exploited remotely over network reachability.
Access complexity (AC:M)
Exploitation needs some favorable conditions, but not exceptional ones.
Authentication (AU:S)
A single authentication is required.
Confidentiality impact (C:C)
Complete confidentiality impact.
Integrity impact (I:C)
Complete integrity impact.
Availability impact (A:C)
Complete availability impact.
6.8 10.0 [email protected]

Weakness enumeration for CVE-2016-6631

OS Trackers for CVE-2016-6631

vendor priority summary link
debian not yet assigned CVE-2016-6631 not yet assigned priority: Debian including 1 source packages (phpmyadmin), 4 status rows across 4 suites (bookworm, bullseye, sid, trixie): resolved 4. https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2016-6631
gentoo normal CVE-2016-6631: 1 GLSA(s) (201701-32), 1 atom(s) (dev-db/phpmyadmin); latest impact normal. https://bugs.gentoo.org/buglist.cgi?quicksearch=CVE-2016-6631
ubuntu high CVE-2016-6631 high priority: Ubuntu including 1 source packages (phpmyadmin), 8 status rows across 8 suites (artful, bionic, precise, trusty, upstream, xenial, yakkety, zesty): not-affected 4, released 3, ignored 1. https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-6631

Affected software / configurations for CVE-2016-6631

Vendor Product Version Raw CPE
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.4.0 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.4.1 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.4.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.4.1.1 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.4.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.4.2 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.4.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.4.3 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.4.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.4.4 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.4.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.4.5 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.4.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.4.6 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.4.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.4.6.1 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.4.6.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.4.7 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.4.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.4.8 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.4.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.4.9 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.4.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.4.10 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.4.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.4.11 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.4.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.4.12 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.4.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.4.13 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.4.13:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.4.13.1 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.4.13.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.4.14 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.4.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.4.14.1 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.4.14.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.4.15 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.4.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.4.15.1 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.4.15.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.4.15.2 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.4.15.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.4.15.3 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.4.15.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.4.15.4 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.4.15.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.4.15.5 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.4.15.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.4.15.6 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.4.15.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.4.15.7 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.4.15.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.6.0 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.6.1 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.6.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.6.2 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.6.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.6.3 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.6.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.0.0 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.0.1 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.0.2 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.0.3 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.0.4 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.0.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.0.4.1 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.0.4.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.0.4.2 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.0.4.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.0.5 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.0.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.0.6 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.0.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.0.7 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.0.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.0.8 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.0.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.0.9 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.0.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.0.10 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.0.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.0.10.1 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.0.10.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.0.10.2 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.0.10.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.0.10.3 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.0.10.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.0.10.4 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.0.10.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.0.10.5 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.0.10.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.0.10.6 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.0.10.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.0.10.7 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.0.10.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.0.10.8 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.0.10.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.0.10.9 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.0.10.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.0.10.10 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.0.10.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.0.10.11 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.0.10.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.0.10.12 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.0.10.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.0.10.13 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.0.10.13:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.0.10.14 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.0.10.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.0.10.15 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.0.10.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin 4.0.10.16 cpe:2.3:a:phpmyadmin:phpmyadmin:4.0.10.16:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

References for CVE-2016-6631

cvelogic Threat Intelligence