CVE-2026-111907 in phpMyFAQ
Summary
by MITRE • 10/17/2026
phpMyFAQ 4.0.0 before 4.1.9 contains a cross-site request forgery vulnerability in the POST /admin/api/update-database endpoint, which executes database migrations without validating a CSRF token. Attackers can lure a logged-in user with the CONFIGURATION_EDIT permission into submitting a crafted cross-site request, triggering migrations that may impact database integrity or availability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/18/2026
The identified vulnerability in phpMyFAQ versions prior to 4.1.9 represents a critical failure in access control mechanisms, specifically manifesting as a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) flaw within the administrative API endpoint responsible for executing database migrations. This security deficiency arises because the POST /admin/api/update-database route does not implement or validate anti-CSRF tokens before processing state-changing requests. In modern web application architecture, CSRF protections are essential to ensure that a request originates from an authorized user intent rather than being forged by a malicious third-party site. The absence of this validation allows attackers to exploit the authenticated session of any user who possesses CONFIGURATION_EDIT permissions, effectively bypassing intended security boundaries without requiring additional authentication factors or complex exploitation techniques beyond social engineering or lure mechanisms.
From a technical perspective, the core issue lies in the server-side logic that processes database migration scripts triggered by this endpoint. Database migrations are powerful operations designed to alter schema structures, modify data types, or update configuration tables within the application's backend storage. Because these operations require elevated privileges and carry significant risk to system integrity, they must be strictly protected against unauthorized initiation. By failing to verify a unique, unpredictable token associated with the user's session, the application treats any POST request arriving at this endpoint as legitimate if it originates from an active administrative login. This allows an attacker to craft a malicious webpage or email containing a hidden form that automatically submits when visited by the victim. Upon submission, the browser attaches the victim’s existing authentication cookies and credentials, causing the server to execute the migration script under the context of the privileged user account.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to the nature of database migrations. While some migrations may be benign updates intended for version compatibility, an attacker can craft a malicious payload that triggers destructive or disruptive changes. This could include dropping critical tables, altering column definitions in ways that break application functionality, injecting unauthorized configuration values, or even executing raw SQL commands if the migration framework is improperly sandboxed. Such actions directly compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the phpMyFAQ instance. For organizations relying on this platform for knowledge management, such an attack could lead to data loss, service downtime, or a complete breach of sensitive information stored within the FAQ database. The ability to manipulate the underlying schema also opens pathways for further exploitation, potentially leading to remote code execution if subsequent vulnerabilities exist in how migration scripts are parsed and executed by the backend engine.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which describes Cross-Site Request Forgery as a weakness where a user is tricked into submitting a malicious request that performs an action on behalf of another identity without their consent. Furthermore, from a tactical perspective relevant to threat intelligence frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK, this behavior corresponds to techniques involving account manipulation and potential data exfiltration or destruction depending on the specific migration payload used. The attack vector falls under T1078 Valid Accounts, as it relies on hijacking valid administrative sessions through social engineering rather than direct authentication bypass. It also touches upon T1496 Resource Hijacking if the migrations are designed to consume excessive resources, though primarily it serves as a mechanism for unauthorized state change within the application layer.
To mitigate this vulnerability and prevent similar issues in future releases, developers must implement robust CSRF protection mechanisms across all endpoints that modify server-side state or database structures. This typically involves generating unique, cryptographically secure tokens per user session and validating these tokens on every POST request to sensitive APIs like /admin/api/update-database. Additionally, implementing the SameSite cookie attribute for authentication cookies can provide an additional layer of defense by restricting how browsers send credentials in cross-site contexts. Administrators running affected versions should immediately upgrade to phpMyFAQ 4.1.9 or later where this flaw has been addressed. In environments where upgrading is not immediately feasible, deploying a Web Application Firewall with rules capable of detecting and blocking anomalous POST requests lacking expected CSRF tokens can serve as an effective compensating control until the patch is applied. Regular security audits focusing on access controls for administrative functions are also recommended to ensure that privilege escalation vectors remain closed against internal and external threats alike.