CVE-2014-6050 in phpMyFAQ
Summary
by MITRE
phpMyFAQ before 2.8.13 allows remote attackers to bypass the CAPTCHA protection mechanism by replaying the request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/26/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6050 affects phpMyFAQ versions prior to 2.8.13 and represents a critical security flaw in the CAPTCHA protection mechanism. This issue allows remote attackers to bypass the intended security controls by replaying previously submitted requests, effectively undermining the authentication and access control measures that should protect the application from automated attacks. The vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of CAPTCHA responses within the application's request handling process, creating a window of opportunity for malicious actors to exploit the system without proper authentication.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the application's failure to properly validate or invalidate CAPTCHA tokens during the request processing cycle. When a user submits a form containing CAPTCHA verification, the system should ensure that the CAPTCHA response is valid and has not been previously used. However, in vulnerable versions of phpMyFAQ, the application accepts replayed requests containing valid CAPTCHA responses without proper validation, allowing attackers to reuse successful authentication attempts. This behavior violates fundamental security principles of request validation and session management, creating a persistent vulnerability that can be exploited repeatedly.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple authentication bypass, as it enables attackers to perform automated attacks against various application functions including user account creation, password reset mechanisms, and administrative operations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-345 Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity, where the system fails to properly verify the authenticity of submitted data. Additionally, this weakness can be leveraged to execute techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1110 Brute Force and T1078 Valid Accounts, as attackers can systematically exploit the bypassed CAPTCHA to gain unauthorized access to the system. The vulnerability particularly affects web applications that rely on CAPTCHA for protection against automated attacks, making it a significant concern for database administration interfaces that handle sensitive information.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2014-6050 requires immediate implementation of phpMyFAQ version 2.8.13 or later, which includes proper CAPTCHA token validation and request handling mechanisms. System administrators should ensure that all CAPTCHA tokens are properly invalidated after use and that the application maintains proper state management for authentication requests. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as rate limiting, IP address monitoring, and enhanced logging to detect and prevent abuse of the vulnerability. The fix addresses the underlying issue by implementing proper token validation that prevents replay attacks and ensures that each CAPTCHA response can only be used once, thereby restoring the intended security controls of the application's authentication system.