CVE-2016-2561: Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in phpMyAdmin 4.4.x before 4.4.15.5 and 4.5.x before 4.5.5

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MEDIUM 5.4DOWNGRADE

CVE-2016-2561 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 5.4) affecting phpmyadmin. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in phpMyAdmin 4.4.x before 4.4.15.5 and 4.5.x before 4.5.5.1 allow remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) normalization.php or (2) js/normalization.js in the database normalization page, (3) templates/database/structure/sortable_header.phtml in the database structure page, or (4) the pos parameter to db_central_columns.php in the central columns page.

Why this priority

No elevated risk signals yet

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	5.4 (Medium)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	Low
User interaction	Required
EPSS exploit chance	2.5% (top 15%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-79
Published	2016-03-01
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: phpmyadmin

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2016-03-01 11:59 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 00:44 UTCUpdated Record last modified

phpmyadmin phpmyadmin DOWNGRADE

Affected: 4.4.0 · 4.4.1 · 4.4.1.1 · 4.4.2 · 4.4.3 · 4.4.4 · 4.4.5 · 4.4.6

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 4.4.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy phpmyadmin || rpm -q phpmyadmin || phpmyadmin --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 4.4.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison phpmyadmin sudo apt install phpmyadmin=<VERSION_BEFORE_4.4.0> sudo apt-mark hold phpmyadmin

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list phpmyadmin sudo dnf downgrade phpmyadmin-<VERSION_BEFORE_4.4.0> sudo dnf versionlock add phpmyadmin

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2016-2561?

phpmyadmin: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2016-2561 being exploited?

CVE-2016-2561 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2016-2561 affect?

CVE-2016-2561 affects phpmyadmin. Severity is medium (CVSS 5.4). Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in phpMyAdmin 4.4.x before 4.4.15.5 and 4.5.x before 4.5.5.1 allow remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) normalization.php or (2) js/normalization.js in

How urgent is CVE-2016-2561?

Priority 40/100. No elevated risk signals yet.

Software pages

PHP vulnerabilities · phpMyAdmin vulnerabilities

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References

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