New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Block XAMPP External" -Direction Inbound -LocalPort 80,443 -Protocol TCP -Action Block -RemoteAddress Any Run automated scanners like nmap with the http-xampp-vuln script:
However, in the Windows build of XAMPP version 7.4.6, a critical error occurred during the packaging process. The alias definition for the /phpmyadmin directory was missing the Require local directive. Instead, it inherited the global server permissions, which (depending on the user’s installation choices) often defaulted to Require all granted . xampp for windows 746 exploit
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['auth_type'] = 'cookie'; $cfg['Servers'][$i]['user'] = 'root'; $cfg['Servers'][$i]['password'] = 'your_strong_password'; Explicitly block external access to ports 80, 443, 3306 unless required. For development: Unlike typical exploits that target buffer overflows or
Any remote attacker who could discover a publicly exposed XAMPP 7.4.6 installation could access phpMyAdmin without any password. The "746" Connection The term "746 exploit" is a shorthand referencing the version number (7.4.6). Unlike typical exploits that target buffer overflows or SQL injection, this was a configuration-based exploit . It required no complex payload, no memory corruption, and no user interaction. It was a "zero-click" authentication bypass. Part 2: Technical Breakdown of the Exploit To understand the severity, let’s walk through how an attacker would exploit this vulnerability step-by-step. Step 1: Scanning for Vulnerable Targets Attackers used mass-scanning tools like masscan , zmap , or Shodan.io to find Windows servers with port 80 or 443 open. They specifically looked for the X-Powered-By: PHP/7.4.6 header or the distinctive XAMPP default favicon.ico (hash: 0x38aee45f ). no memory corruption
Disclaimer: This article is for educational and defensive security purposes only. The exploit discussed has been patched. Do not use this information to attack systems you do not own. The Misconfiguration XAMPP is designed to be secure by default when accessed remotely. Normally, the httpd-xampp.conf file contains rules that explicitly block external access to sensitive directories like /phpmyadmin , /webalizer , and /security . Access is restricted to 127.0.0.1 (localhost).