Read the docs

Unauthenticated denial of service in phpMyFAQ API pagination

Priority HIGH 77CWE-400Published · Updated

Key facts

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

Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-400.

Summary

phpMyFAQ from 4.2.0-alpha before 4.2.0-beta contains an uncontrolled resource consumption flaw (CWE-400) in its unauthenticated faqs and search API endpoints. Concurrent GET requests make the server load and process all database records into PHP memory, exhausting CPU and memory. An unauthenticated remote attacker can crash the server with network access and no user interaction.

Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-28

Description from the CNA

phpMyFAQ 4.2.0-alpha before 4.2.0-beta contains an uncontrolled resource consumption vulnerability in the unauthenticated faqs and search API endpoints. Attackers can send concurrent GET requests that load and process all database records into PHP memory, exhausting CPU and memory to crash the server.

Why it matters now

Exploitation Proof of concept CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00415 36th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed phpMyFAQ (thorsten): 4.2.0-beta

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
thorstenphpMyFAQ4.2.0-alpha to before 4.2.0-beta4.2.0-betaPatch availableCNA
  • phpMyFAQ Vendorthorsten Affected 4.2.0-alpha to before 4.2.0-beta Fixed in 4.2.0-beta Patch available CNA

CPE names Threatist (inferred) · 1

Inferred from how NVD named this product before; not given by a source.

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:phpmyfaq:phpmyfaq:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*——thorsten
  • cpe:2.3:a:phpmyfaq:phpmyfaq:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions — — ·thorsten

Remediation

phpMyFAQ 4.2.0-beta fixes this issue. Upgrade phpMyFAQ to 4.2.0-beta or later.

Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-28

  • Fix · CNA phpMyFAQ (thorsten) Fixed in 4.2.0-beta

Fixed in the same release

Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.

  • Release ·

    thorsten phpMyFAQ 4.2.0-beta

    24 records Highest priority Priority HIGH 10 HIGH, 10 MEDIUM, 4 LOW

    Other records, highest priority first

    • TI-2026-76115 Authorization bypass in phpMyFAQ REST API edits restricted FAQsPriority HIGH 73
    • TI-2026-76092 phpMyFAQ e-mail change lacks password check, enabling takeoverPriority HIGH 73
    • TI-2026-76101 Privilege escalation in phpMyFAQ group category restrictions APIPriority HIGH 72

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-18 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-111901
  2. 2026-10-18 Alias added: GHSA-45x8-rjq5-9jpp
  3. 2026-10-18 Priority changed: MEDIUM → LOW
  4. 2026-10-19 CISA SSVC decision points changed
  5. 2026-10-19 Priority changed: LOW → HIGH

References

  • TI-2023-00296 Improper Authentication in thorsten/phpmyfaq CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2026-76118 Authentication bypass in phpMyFAQ via WebAuthn credential injection CVSS 4.0CRITICAL 9.3
  • TI-2026-32868 phpMyFAQ - Unauthenticated Two-Factor Authentication Brute-Force via /admin/check Endpoint CVSS 4.0CRITICAL 9.3
  • TI-2026-53313 phpMyFAQ 3.1.0 through 4.1.6 Authentication Bypass via LDAP CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2026-34083 phpMyFAQ - Unauthenticated Information Disclosure via getIdFromSolutionId Permission Bypass CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.7
  • TI-2026-27777 phpMyFAQ - Unauthenticated Password Reset via User Password Update Endpoint CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.8
See all 224 →

Sources