CVE-2025-62519: phpMyFAQ SQL Injection Vulnerability

CVE-2025-62519 Overview

CVE-2025-62519 is an authenticated SQL injection vulnerability in phpMyFAQ, an open source FAQ web application. The flaw resides in the main configuration update functionality and affects all versions prior to 4.0.14. A user holding the Configuration Edit permission can inject arbitrary SQL statements through the configuration update flow. Successful exploitation enables full compromise of the underlying database, including reading, modifying, and deleting any stored data. Depending on the database server configuration, attackers can also pivot to remote code execution. The phpMyFAQ maintainers released a patch in version 4.0.14.

Critical Impact
A privileged phpMyFAQ user can execute arbitrary SQL, achieve full database compromise, and potentially obtain remote code execution on the database host.

Affected Products

phpMyFAQ versions prior to 4.0.14
All deployments exposing the administrative configuration interface
Installations where multiple operators hold the Configuration Edit permission

Discovery Timeline

2025-11-17 - CVE-2025-62519 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-62519

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is classified as SQL Injection [CWE-89]. It exists within the main configuration update handler that persists administrative settings to the backing database. The handler concatenates attacker-controlled input into SQL statements without proper parameterization or escaping. Any operator with the Configuration Edit permission can submit crafted configuration values that break out of the intended query context. Once injected, the supplied SQL executes with the same privileges as the phpMyFAQ database account. In typical deployments that account owns the full FAQ schema, granting read, write, and delete access to every table.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper neutralization of special elements in the SQL query built by the configuration update routine. Configuration values are written to the database using dynamically assembled SQL rather than prepared statements with bound parameters. Input validation on the administrative side is insufficient to strip or escape SQL metacharacters before the query is constructed.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based but requires authentication with elevated privileges. An attacker first obtains, compromises, or socially engineers credentials for a phpMyFAQ account that holds the Configuration Edit permission. The attacker then submits a configuration update request containing an SQL payload in one of the configuration parameters. The malicious payload is executed by the database server when the configuration is persisted. Depending on the database engine and its file or command privileges, follow-on actions include exfiltration of user records and password hashes, modification of FAQ content, deletion of records, or remote code execution through database features such as xp_cmdshell, LOAD DATA INFILE, or user-defined functions.

The vulnerability mechanism is documented in the GitHub Security Advisory GHSA-fxm2-cmwj-qvx4 and the GitHub Release Notes for 4.0.14.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-62519

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected modifications to the faqconfig table or other phpMyFAQ schema tables outside normal administrative activity.
HTTP POST requests to the phpMyFAQ admin configuration endpoint containing SQL metacharacters such as single quotes, UNION, SELECT, --, or /* in configuration parameters.
Database server logs showing syntax errors or unusually long queries originating from the phpMyFAQ application user.
New or unexpected operating system processes spawned by the database service account.

Detection Strategies

Enable database query logging and alert on queries containing stacked statements or unusual keywords originating from the phpMyFAQ user.
Deploy a Web Application Firewall rule set that inspects administrative POST bodies for SQL injection patterns.
Review phpMyFAQ admin audit logs for configuration changes correlated with anomalous database activity.

Monitoring Recommendations

Monitor authentication events for accounts holding the Configuration Edit permission and alert on logins from new IP addresses or user agents.
Track outbound network connections from the database host that are not part of normal replication or backup traffic.
Establish a baseline of configuration update frequency and alert on bursts of changes within short time windows.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-62519

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade phpMyFAQ to version 4.0.14 or later on every instance.
Audit the list of accounts that hold the Configuration Edit permission and remove it from users who do not require it.
Rotate the phpMyFAQ database password and reduce that account's privileges to the minimum required for application operation.
Review database and application logs for evidence of exploitation since the affected versions were deployed.

Patch Information

The vulnerability is fixed in phpMyFAQ 4.0.14. The maintainers published the fix in the GitHub Release Notes 4.0.14 and the corresponding GitHub Security Advisory GHSA-fxm2-cmwj-qvx4. Administrators should apply the upgrade through their normal phpMyFAQ update process and validate the version string in the admin panel after deployment.

Workarounds

Restrict network access to the phpMyFAQ administrative interface using IP allowlists or a VPN until patching is complete.
Temporarily revoke the Configuration Edit permission from all non-essential users.
Configure the phpMyFAQ database account without FILE, EXECUTE, or shell-related privileges to limit the impact of injection.
Place a Web Application Firewall in front of phpMyFAQ with SQL injection signatures enabled for administrative endpoints.

bash

# Example: download and apply phpMyFAQ 4.0.14
wget https://github.com/thorsten/phpMyFAQ/releases/download/4.0.14/phpMyFAQ-4.0.14.zip
unzip phpMyFAQ-4.0.14.zip -d /var/www/phpmyfaq-4.0.14
# Back up existing installation and configuration before replacing files
cp -a /var/www/phpmyfaq /var/www/phpmyfaq.bak
rsync -a /var/www/phpmyfaq-4.0.14/ /var/www/phpmyfaq/
# Verify version in the admin panel after upgrade