Missing authorization in phpMyFAQ lets users delete superadmin accounts
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Attack requirements
- None
- Impact type
- Privilege escalation
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-269.
Summary
phpMyFAQ before 4.1.9 contains a missing authorization flaw in its deleteUser() API, classified as CWE-269 (Improper Privilege Management). An authenticated user with the delete_user permission who is not a superadmin can delete superadmin accounts other than user ID 1. The attack needs low privileges and no user interaction, and it can remove administrative access and accountability.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-28
Description from the CNA
phpMyFAQ before 4.1.9 contains a missing authorization vulnerability in the deleteUser() API that allows authenticated non-superadmin users with delete_user permission to delete superadmin accounts. Attackers can send a DELETE request to /admin/api/user/delete with a superadmin's userId other than 1, removing administrative access and accountability.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- 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
Upgrade phpMyFAQ to version 4.1.9 or later, which fixes this issue.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-28
- Fix · CNA phpMyFAQ (thorsten) Fixed in 4.1.9
Fixed in the same release
Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.
- Release ·
thorsten phpMyFAQ 4.1.9
14 records Highest priority Priority HIGH 5 HIGH, 6 MEDIUM, 3 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2026-76118 Authentication bypass in phpMyFAQ via WebAuthn credential injectionPriority HIGH 81
- 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
Timeline
- 2026-10-18 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-111909
- 2026-10-18 Alias added: GHSA-2jrh-wx9p-9fp9
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-2026-76108 Unauthenticated denial of service in phpMyFAQ API pagination CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.7
- 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
Sources
- CVE-2026-111909 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-111909 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-2jrh-wx9p-9fp9 · 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