phpMyFAQ stored Cross-site Scripting at user email

QFinch assessment

The email field in phpMyFAQ's user control panel page is vulnerable to stored XSS attacks due to the inadequacy of PHP's FILTERVALIDATEEMAIL function, which only validates the email format, not its content. This vulnerability enables an attacker to execute arbitrary client-side JavaScript within the context of another user's phpMyFAQ session.

Potential impact

This allows an attacker to execute arbitrary client side JavaScript within the context of another user's phpMyFAQ session.

Technical context

Despite using PHP's FILTERVALIDATEEMAIL function, the email field does not adequately validate the content of the email address. This means that malicious input, such as JavaScript code, can be accepted and stored in the database without being detected. When the stored data is retrieved and displayed on web pages, it is not properly sanitized to remove or neutralize any potentially harmful content, such as JavaScript code which leads to Stored XSS.