CVE-2023-0787 in phpmyfaq
Summary
by MITRE • 02/12/2023
Cross-site Scripting (XSS) - Generic in GitHub repository thorsten/phpmyfaq prior to 3.1.11.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-0787 represents a cross-site scripting flaw classified under the generic XSS category within the thorsten/phpmyfaq GitHub repository. This issue affects versions prior to 3.1.11 and demonstrates a critical weakness in the application's input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The vulnerability arises from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data that flows into the application's response without proper escaping or encoding, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into web pages viewed by other users.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly handle and sanitize user input across multiple parameters and endpoints within the phpmyfaq framework. When users submit data through various interface elements or API endpoints, the application does not adequately validate or encode this input before rendering it in HTML contexts. This allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that execute within the victim's browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the user. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, where improper validation of input data leads to execution of malicious scripts in the victim's browser.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-0787 extends beyond simple data theft, as it enables attackers to manipulate the application's behavior and compromise user sessions. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to inject malicious scripts that steal cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or perform unauthorized administrative actions if the victim has elevated privileges. The attack surface includes any functionality that accepts user input and displays it without proper sanitization, making the entire application susceptible to this class of attack. This vulnerability particularly threatens web applications that handle sensitive information or provide administrative interfaces, as the injected scripts can potentially escalate privileges or access restricted data.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-0787 should prioritize immediate remediation through updating to phpmyfaq version 3.1.11 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the XSS vulnerability. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being rendered in any HTML context. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures, while regular security testing including dynamic application security testing and static code analysis should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and adheres to ATT&CK technique T1531 which involves modifying or injecting code into applications, highlighting the need for robust input validation and output encoding controls in web applications.