Overview
A high-severity SQL injection vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-62519, has been discovered in phpMyFAQ, an open-source FAQ web application. This vulnerability affects versions prior to 4.0.14 and allows a privileged user with ‘Configuration Edit’ permissions to execute arbitrary SQL commands. Successful exploitation can lead to a full compromise of the database. It is crucial to update to version 4.0.14 immediately to mitigate this risk.
Technical Details
The SQL injection flaw resides in the main configuration update functionality. Specifically, a privileged user possessing ‘Configuration Edit’ permissions can manipulate input parameters in a way that allows them to inject malicious SQL code. This injected code is then executed by the database server, bypassing security measures and granting the attacker unauthorized access.
The vulnerability stems from insufficient input sanitization and validation when handling user-supplied data in the configuration update process. By crafting specific requests, an attacker can inject SQL commands to read, modify, or delete data within the database.
CVSS Analysis
- CVE ID: CVE-2025-62519
- Severity: HIGH
- CVSS Score: 7.2
A CVSS score of 7.2 indicates a high-severity vulnerability. This score reflects the potential for significant impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. While the vulnerability requires authentication (‘Configuration Edit’ privileges), the widespread use of phpMyFAQ makes it a potentially attractive target.
Possible Impact
Successful exploitation of this SQL injection vulnerability can have severe consequences:
- Data Breach: Attackers can access sensitive information stored in the database, including user credentials, personal data, and confidential business information.
- Data Manipulation: Malicious actors can modify or delete data, leading to data corruption, service disruption, and reputational damage.
- Remote Code Execution: Depending on the database server’s configuration, attackers might be able to execute arbitrary code on the server, potentially gaining full control of the system.
- Denial of Service: Attackers could manipulate the database to cause performance degradation or complete service outage.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
The primary mitigation step is to immediately update phpMyFAQ to version 4.0.14 or later. This version contains a patch that addresses the SQL injection vulnerability by implementing proper input sanitization and validation.
Steps to upgrade:
- Backup your phpMyFAQ database and files.
- Download the latest version (4.0.14 or later) from the official phpMyFAQ website.
- Follow the upgrade instructions provided in the phpMyFAQ documentation.
- Verify that the upgrade was successful and that the application is functioning correctly.
If immediate upgrade is not possible, consider implementing temporary workarounds such as restricting access to the ‘Configuration Edit’ functionality and monitoring database activity for suspicious queries. However, these are not substitutes for patching.
