Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2023-0794 is a stored cross-site scripting issue in thorsten/phpmyfaq before version 3.1.11. An authenticated low-privilege user could store malicious browser-executed content, risking sensitive data exposure, content tampering, and limited service impact when viewed through the application.
Executive priority
Treat this as a high-priority patching item for any exposed phpMyFAQ instance. The issue can affect confidentiality and integrity, but the supplied sources do not show active exploitation or broader product impact.
Technical view
The CVE describes CWE-79 stored XSS in the thorsten/phpmyfaq GitHub repository prior to 3.1.11. CVSS 3.1 is 8.3 high: network reachable, low complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction, unchanged scope, with high confidentiality and integrity impact and low availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely in self-hosted phpMyFAQ deployments older than 3.1.11, especially where untrusted or lower-privileged users can create or edit persisted content. The sources do not specify exact vulnerable fields or version ranges beyond prior to 3.1.11.
Exploitation context
The CVE is not listed as CISA KEV in the supplied bundle, so there is no source-backed evidence of active exploitation. One Huntr reference is tagged exploit, indicating public vulnerability detail exists, but the bundle does not justify claiming real-world exploitation.
Researcher notes
Key gaps are the exact vulnerable input path, affected version granularity, and exploit telemetry. Use the CVE record, Huntr advisory, and fixing commit for scoping, but avoid assuming products or versions not named in those sources.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade phpMyFAQ to 3.1.11 or later.
- Review phpMyFAQ vendor guidance and the linked fixing commit.
- Limit content creation and editing to trusted users until patched.
- Inspect stored user-generated content for unexpected script-like markup.
- Prioritize internet-facing or partner-accessible phpMyFAQ instances.
Validation and detection
- Inventory all phpMyFAQ instances and record their versions.
- Confirm no production instance is older than 3.1.11.
- Review user roles allowed to create or modify persisted content.
- Check application logs for suspicious content edits around exposure windows.
- Verify the linked patch is included in deployed builds.
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-79: User-session and phishing behavior lookup
Client-side and session-facing weaknesses should be reviewed alongside initial-access and user-execution behaviors. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2023-0794 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 8.3 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L2.85.5Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
8.3HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://huntr.dev/bounties/949975f1-271d-46aa-85e5-1a013cdb5efbCVE reference
- https://github.com/thorsten/phpmyfaq/commit/edf0f6f90d4deaf46b4fd97ae92f16c1e10a2635CVE reference
- https://huntr.com/bounties/949975f1-271d-46aa-85e5-1a013cdb5efbCVE reference · exploit
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.