CVE-2024-56199: phpmyfaq XSS — Exploit & Fix

Description

phpMyFAQ is an open source FAQ web application. Starting no later than version 3.2.10 and prior to version 4.0.2, an attacker can inject malicious HTML content into the FAQ editor at `http[:]//localhost/admin/index[.]php?action=editentry`, resulting in a complete disruption of the FAQ page's user interface. By injecting malformed HTML elements styled to cover the entire screen, an attacker can render the page unusable. This injection manipulates the page structure by introducing overlapping buttons, images, and iframes, breaking the intended layout and functionality. Exploiting this issue can lead to Denial of Service for legitimate users, damage to the user experience, and potential abuse in phishing or defacement attacks. Version 4.0.2 contains a patch for the vulnerability.

Is your site exposed to CVE-2024-56199?

Run a free security scan — no signup, results in seconds.

CVSS v3.1 Score

5.2

MEDIUM

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:L

Weakness Type (CWE)

CWE-79 Cross-site Scripting (XSS)

CWE-80 CWE-80

Affected Products

Vendor	Product	Versions
phpmyfaq	phpmyfaq	3.2.10 — 4.0.2

References

Advisories & Patches

https://github.com/thorsten/phpMyFAQ/security/advisories/GHSA-ww33-jppq-qfrp

Exploits

https://github.com/thorsten/phpMyFAQ/security/advisories/GHSA-ww33-jppq-qfrp

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2024-56199? +

phpMyFAQ is an open source FAQ web application. Starting no later than version 3.2.10 and prior to version 4.0.2, an attacker can inject malicious HTML content into the FAQ editor at `http[:]//localhost/admin/index[.]php?action=editentry`, resulting in a complete disruption of the FAQ page's user interface. By injecting malformed HTML elements styled to cover the entire screen, an attacker can render the page unusable. This injection manipulates the page structure by introducing overlapping buttons, images, and iframes, breaking the intended layout and functionality. Exploiting this issue can lead to Denial of Service for legitimate users, damage to the user experience, and potential abuse in phishing or defacement attacks. Version 4.0.2 contains a patch for the vulnerability. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.2 (MEDIUM).

How severe is CVE-2024-56199? +

CVE-2024-56199 has a CVSS v3.1 score of 5.2 out of 10, rated MEDIUM. This is a medium-severity vulnerability that should be remediated as part of regular maintenance.

What products are affected by CVE-2024-56199? +

CVE-2024-56199 affects products from phpmyfaq, specifically: phpmyfaq. Check the affected products table above for specific version ranges.

How do I check if I'm vulnerable to CVE-2024-56199? +

You can use Secably's free Website Scanner to check your website for known vulnerabilities. For infrastructure scanning, use the Port Scanner to identify exposed services that may be affected. Check the vendor advisories linked above for specific patch and version information.

Related Vulnerabilities

CVE-2026-40282

WeGIA is a web manager for charitable institutions. In versions prior to 3.6.10, a Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability allows …

CVE-2026-3317

Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Navigate Content Management System. The vulnerability is present in the '/blog' endpoint because user …

CVE-2025-10354

Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability reflected in Semantic MediaWiki. This vulnerability allows an attacker to execute JavaScript code in the victim's …

CVE-2026-41456

Bludit CMS prior to commit 6732dde contains a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability in the search plugin that allows unauthenticated attackers …

CVE-2026-40872

mailcow: dockerized is an open source groupware/email suite based on docker. In versions prior to 2026-03b, the admin dashboard's Autodiscover …

CVE-2026-40878

mailcow: dockerized is an open source groupware/email suite based on docker. In versions prior to 2026-03b, the mailcow web interface …

CVE-2024-56199