Unauthenticated denial of service in phpMyFAQ API pagination
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
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
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
- 2026-10-18 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-111901
- 2026-10-18 Alias added: GHSA-45x8-rjq5-9jpp
- 2026-10-18 Priority changed: MEDIUM → LOW
- 2026-10-19 CISA SSVC decision points changed
- 2026-10-19 Priority changed: LOW → HIGH
References
More thorsten vulnerabilities
- 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
Sources
- CVE-2026-111901 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-111901 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-45x8-rjq5-9jpp · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences