I have a remote mySQL table that I use in a few tools, occasionally I need to access the table from inside a particular test site temporarily. The problem is I cannot access phpMyAdmin because an outbound port is blocked at this site. My phpMyAdmin is accessed through a Plesk Control panel on my remote server (port 8443).
Im fairly adept at web programming and can think of a few ways of exposing the table for a remote admin interface that would run on port 80 with a little login screen, it seems like a lot of work to get around a port blocking though, considering as well that I will only use it a few times.
I could also install another instance of phpMyAdmin somewhere else on the server and use that, but then I feel like Im exposing a whole bunch of security issues, once again just to overcome a specific clients’ port blocking.
Im pretty sure I can’t change the existing phpMyAdmin port number, as it must be accessed through Plesk.
All this being said, Im hoping that someone can recommend an easy solution that will help in this situation. Maybe an out of the box element that allows me to edit a single table and I can just start a session if my correct password is posted to the page?
Im looking for any specific answer just an general idea
Thanks in advance
2
Answers
You can configure Apache so that it listens to several ports.
This does not create another potential security hole. In fact, it merely exposes on port 80 the same potential security holes as the ones already exposed on port 8443. With the exception that port 80 is a well-known port, more prone to scanning.
You could (should?) also configure Apache so that it allows connections only from a small set of IP.
You could add something like this in your Apache configuration:
If you have SSH access to the remote host (where Plesk and phpMyAdmin are installed), you can make an SSH tunnel with the command
ssh [email protected] -L 80:127.0.0.1:8443
and then access Plesk viahttp://localhost/
.If there’s already a webserver present on your local host, change the port
80
in the SSH command accordingly.Also, you should consult SSH’s man page. SSH tunneling offers great possibilities (you could just bind an admin console to 127.0.0.1 and still access it from your own computer, using an SSH tunnel).