Read the docs
TI-2026-27195 Aliases CVE-2026-34973GHSA-gcp9-5jc8-976x

phpMyFAQ has a LIKE Wildcard Injection in Search.php — Unescaped % and _ Metacharacters Enable Broad Content Disclosure

Priority HIGH 70CWE-943Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Attack requirements
None
Impact type
—
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
Low · None · None
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and GitHub.

Summary

phpMyFAQ is an open source FAQ web application. Prior to version 4.1.1, the searchCustomPages() method in phpmyfaq/src/phpMyFAQ/Search.php uses real_escape_string() (via escape()) to sanitize the search term before embedding it in LIKE clauses. However, real_escape_string() does not escape SQL LIKE metacharacters % (match any sequence) and _ (match any single character). An unauthenticated attacker can inject these wildcards into search queries, causing them to match unintended records — including content that was not meant to be surfaced — resulting in information disclosure. This issue has been patched in version 4.1.1.

Why it matters now

Exploitation Proof of concept CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00349 28th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix Fixed phpMyFAQ (thorsten): 4.1.1thorsten/phpmyfaq (Packagist): 4.1.1

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
Poc
Automatable
Yes
Technical impact
Partial

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
thorstenphpMyFAQbefore 4.1.14.1.1Patch availableCNA
—thorsten/phpmyfaq (Packagist)before 4.1.14.1.1Patch availableGHSA-gcp9-5jc8-976x
  • phpMyFAQ Vendorthorsten Affected before 4.1.1 Fixed in 4.1.1 Patch available CNA
  • thorsten/phpmyfaq (Packagist) Vendor— Affected before 4.1.1 Fixed in 4.1.1 Patch available GHSA-gcp9-5jc8-976x

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:phpmyfaq:phpmyfaq:4.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*4.1.0Vulnerablethorsten
  • cpe:2.3:a:phpmyfaq:phpmyfaq:4.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.1.0 Vulnerable ·thorsten

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA phpMyFAQ (thorsten) Fixed in 4.1.1
  • Fix · GHSA-gcp9-5jc8-976x thorsten/phpmyfaq (Packagist) Fixed in 4.1.1 Advisory →

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-34973
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-gcp9-5jc8-976x

References

Exploit 1

Advisory 1

Other 2

  • TI-2023-00296 Improper Authentication in thorsten/phpmyfaq CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2026-53313 phpMyFAQ 3.1.0 through 4.1.6 Authentication Bypass via LDAP CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2025-37331 phpMyFAQ duplicate email registration allows multiple accounts with the same email CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2024-36257 phpMyFAQ Generates an Error Message Containing Sensitive Information if database server is not available CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.6
  • TI-2023-03720 Improper Neutralization of Formula Elements in a CSV File in thorsten/phpmyfaq CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2023-00749 Command Injection in thorsten/phpmyfaq CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
See all 153 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences