CVE-2022-3754 in phpmyfaq
Summary
by MITRE • 10/31/2022
Weak Password Requirements in GitHub repository thorsten/phpmyfaq prior to 3.1.8.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/26/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-3754 represents a critical weakness in password security implementation within the thorsten/phpmyfaq GitHub repository software. This issue affects versions prior to 3.1.8 and stems from insufficient password complexity requirements that fail to enforce strong authentication practices. The flaw allows attackers to exploit weak password policies by creating accounts with easily guessable or commonly used passwords, thereby compromising the security posture of systems utilizing this software. The vulnerability directly impacts user authentication mechanisms and creates potential entry points for unauthorized access to sensitive data repositories.
The technical implementation flaw manifests in the software's password validation logic which does not adequately enforce minimum security requirements such as minimum length, character variety, or resistance to common attack patterns. This weakness enables credential stuffing attacks, brute force attempts, and dictionary-based password guessing exploits. The vulnerability can be categorized under CWE-521 Weak Password Requirements, which specifically addresses insufficient password strength validation mechanisms. Attackers can leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized access to user accounts, potentially leading to complete system compromise when combined with other attack vectors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple account compromise to include potential data breaches, unauthorized data manipulation, and privilege escalation opportunities. Organizations using affected versions of phpmyfaq face significant risk exposure as attackers can systematically target weak credentials to gain access to database management interfaces. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1110.003 Credential Stuffing, where attackers exploit weak passwords across multiple systems. The security implications are particularly severe for database management interfaces that often contain sensitive information and administrative controls.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-3754 require immediate software updates to version 3.1.8 or later, which includes enhanced password validation mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive password policy enforcement including minimum length requirements of at least 12 characters, mandatory use of uppercase, lowercase, numeric, and special characters, and prohibition of commonly used passwords. Additional security controls such as account lockout mechanisms, multi-factor authentication implementation, and regular password rotation policies should be deployed. The remediation process must also include thorough security auditing of existing user accounts to identify and strengthen any compromised credentials, ensuring that the vulnerability is fully addressed and future attacks are prevented through robust authentication controls.