Server side cross-site scripting In phpmyfaq/phpmyfaq
Description
phpMyFAQ vulnerable to stored XSS on attachments filename
Summary
Unsafe echo of filename in phpMyFAQ\phpmyfaq\admin\attachments.php leading to allow execute JavaScript code in client side (XSS)
Details
On that snippet code of rendering the file attachments from user tables
<?php foreach ($crumbs as $item) : ?> <tr id="attachment_<?= $item->id ?>" title="<?= $item->thema ?>"> <td><?= $item->id ?></td> <td><?= $item->filename ?></td> <td><?= $item->record_lang ?></td> <td><?= Utils::formatBytes($item->filesize) ?></td> <td><?= $item->mime_type ?></td> <td>...
The data directly rendering with short hand echo without any sanitation first, its recommend to use existing class of Strings::htmlentities on use phpMyFAQ\Strings;
<td><?= Strings::htmlentities($item->filename); ?></td> <td><?= Strings::htmlentities($item->record_lang); ?></td> <td><?= Utils::formatBytes($item->filesize) ?></td> <td><?= Strings::htmlentities($item->mime_type); ?></td>
Propose fixing on that pull request https://github.com/thorsten/phpMyFAQ/pull/2827
PoC
An attacker with permission will upload the attachments image on http://{base_url}/admin/?action=editentry
On endpoint of ajax upload image POST /admin/index.php?action=ajax&ajax=att&ajaxaction=upload
Change the originally name file on parameters filename to a XSS payload
The XSS will trigger on attachment pages /admin/?action=attachments
Trigger XSS

Payload XSS
Impact
This vulnerability will allow an attacker with a permissions of uploading an attachment to storing the payload of XSS on database specific table faqattachment columns filename.
The XSS payload could be rendering on page that listing the file on tables, and impact to others user that on the hierarchy.
The payload XSS have several attack scenario such like
Stealing the cookies (isn’t possible since HttpOnly)
Crashing the application with a looping javascript payload
Mitigation
Update Impact
Minimal update. May introduce new vulnerabilities or breaking changes.
Ecosystem | Package | Affected version | Patched versions |
|---|---|---|---|
packagist | 3.2.5 |
Aliases
References