PatchTheCVECVE-2020-26935: An issue was discovered in SearchController in phpMyAdmin before 4.9.6 and 5.x before 5.0.3
74
This week
CRITICAL 9.8REMOTEWATCHLISTUPGRADEDOWNGRADEMITIGATE
CVE-2020-26935 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) affecting phpmyadmin, backports sle, leap. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.
An issue was discovered in SearchController in phpMyAdmin before 4.9.6 and 5.x before 5.0.3. A SQL injection vulnerability was discovered in how phpMyAdmin processes SQL statements in the search feature. An attacker could use this flaw to inject malicious SQL in to a query.
Why this priority
- Critical severity
- EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited
- Public exploit reference
- Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action
- On your watchlist
A fixed release or distro patch exists.
Risk facts
| CVSS score | 9.8 (Critical) |
| Attack vector | Network (remote) |
| Attack complexity | Low |
| Privileges needed | None |
| User interaction | None |
| EPSS exploit chance | 63.7% (top 1%) |
| CISA exploited list | No |
| Weakness | CWE-89 |
| Published | 2020-10-10 |
| Last modified | 2026-06-17 |
Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score
Am I affected?
Timeline
- Published CVE record published
- Updated Record last modified
phpmyadmin phpmyadmin UPGRADE
Affected: >= 4.9.0 and < 4.9.6 · >= 5.0.0 and < 5.0.3
Fixed in: 4.9.6, 5.0.3
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 4.9.0
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy phpmyadmin || rpm -q phpmyadmin || phpmyadmin --version
2. UPGRADE to 4.9.6 (Debian / Ubuntu)
sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade phpmyadmin
2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
sudo dnf upgrade phpmyadmin
Note
Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.
3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 4.9.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)
apt-cache madison phpmyadmin
sudo apt install phpmyadmin=<VERSION_BEFORE_4.9.0>
sudo apt-mark hold phpmyadmin
3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
dnf --showduplicates list phpmyadmin
sudo dnf downgrade phpmyadmin-<VERSION_BEFORE_4.9.0>
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.
opensuse backports sle DOWNGRADE
Affected: 15.0 · 15.0 sp1 · 15.0 sp2
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 15.0
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy backports-sle || rpm -q backports-sle || backports-sle --version
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 15.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)
apt-cache madison backports-sle
sudo apt install backports-sle=<VERSION_BEFORE_15.0>
sudo apt-mark hold backports-sle
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
dnf --showduplicates list backports-sle
sudo dnf downgrade backports-sle-<VERSION_BEFORE_15.0>
sudo dnf versionlock add backports-sle
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.
opensuse leap MITIGATE
Affected: 15.1 · 15.2
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 15.1
Check your OS release
cat /etc/os-release; uname -r
Debian / Ubuntu
sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade
RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora
sudo dnf upgrade --refresh
Windows
Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update
If no patch exists yet
OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.
fedoraproject fedora MITIGATE
Affected: 31 · 32 · 33
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 31
Check your OS release
cat /etc/os-release; uname -r
Debian / Ubuntu
sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade
RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora
sudo dnf upgrade --refresh
Windows
Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update
If no patch exists yet
OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.
debian debian linux MITIGATE
Affected: 9.0
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 9.0
Check your OS release
cat /etc/os-release; uname -r
Debian / Ubuntu
sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade
RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora
sudo dnf upgrade --refresh
Windows
Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update
If no patch exists yet
OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.
Exact fixes by distribution
A distro patch exists: prefer upgrading over downgrading.
Composer (PHP) · phpmyadmin/phpmyadmin · FIXED · 4.9.6 · vulnerable: >= 4.9.0, < 4.9.6 · source
composer require "phpmyadmin/phpmyadmin:>=4.9.6"
Fedora 46 · keepalived · FIXED · 2.4.3-1.fc46 · FEDORA-2026-0c83a077d7 · source
sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-0c83a077d7
Fedora ELN · dracut · FIXED · 111-5.eln159 · FEDORA-2026-982407d9e3 · source
sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-982407d9e3
Ubuntu 22.04 · phpmyadmin · NOT AFFECTED
Ubuntu 20.04 · phpmyadmin · FIXED · 4:4.9.5+dfsg1-2ubuntu0.1~esm1
sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade phpmyadmin
dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' phpmyadmin)" ge "4:4.9.5+dfsg1-2ubuntu0.1~esm1" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE
Ubuntu 24.04 · phpmyadmin · NOT AFFECTED
Ubuntu 24.10 · phpmyadmin · NOT AFFECTED
Ubuntu 25.04 · phpmyadmin · NOT AFFECTED
Debian 12 · phpmyadmin · FIXED · 4:4.9.7+dfsg1-1
sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade phpmyadmin
dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' phpmyadmin)" ge "4:4.9.7+dfsg1-1" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE
Debian 13 · phpmyadmin · FIXED · 4:4.9.7+dfsg1-1
sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade phpmyadmin
dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' phpmyadmin)" ge "4:4.9.7+dfsg1-1" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE
Public exploits and detection
Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.
- GitHub PoC: Live-Hack-CVE/CVE-2020-26935
- Nuclei scan template: phpMyAdmin < 5.0.3 - SQL Injection
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.
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-2020-26935?
phpmyadmin: upgrade to 4.9.6, 5.0.3; backports sle: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; leap: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.
Is CVE-2020-26935 being exploited?
CVE-2020-26935 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-2020-26935 affect?
CVE-2020-26935 affects phpmyadmin, backports sle, leap. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). An issue was discovered in SearchController in phpMyAdmin before 4.9.6 and 5.x before 5.0.3. A SQL injection vulnerability was discovered in how phpMyAdmin processes SQL statements in the search feature. An attacker could use this flaw to i
How urgent is CVE-2020-26935?
Priority 74/100. Critical severity; EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action; On your watchlist
Software pages
Debian vulnerabilities · phpMyAdmin vulnerabilities
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