Critical CSRF Vulnerability in phpMyFAQ 2.9.8 Exposes Web Applications to Attacks

Critical CSRF Vulnerability Discovered in phpMyFAQ 2.9.8

Security researchers have identified a cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in phpMyFAQ 2.9.8, a widely used open-source FAQ management system. The flaw, tracked under Exploit-DB ID 52455, allows attackers to execute unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users by tricking them into submitting malicious requests.

Technical Details

The CSRF vulnerability (CWE-352) affects phpMyFAQ 2.9.8 and stems from inadequate validation of HTTP requests. Attackers can craft malicious links or forms that, when interacted with by a logged-in user, perform unintended actions such as:

• Modifying FAQ entries
• Altering user permissions
• Deleting content
• Executing administrative functions

The exploit does not require direct access to the target system but relies on social engineering to deceive users into clicking a malicious link or visiting a compromised webpage.

Impact Analysis

Organizations using phpMyFAQ 2.9.8 face significant risks, including:

• Unauthorized data manipulation: Attackers can modify or delete FAQ content, disrupting operations.
• Privilege escalation: Malicious actors may gain administrative control by exploiting authenticated sessions.
• Reputation damage: Compromised FAQ systems can erode user trust and expose sensitive information.

Recommendations

Security teams are urged to take the following steps:

1. Apply patches immediately: Upgrade to the latest version of phpMyFAQ or implement mitigations provided by the vendor.
2. Enforce CSRF protections: Ensure all web applications use anti-CSRF tokens, especially for sensitive actions.
3. Educate users: Train staff to recognize phishing attempts and avoid clicking suspicious links.
4. Monitor for exploitation: Deploy web application firewalls (WAFs) to detect and block CSRF attack attempts.

For further details, refer to the original disclosure on Exploit-DB.