CVE-2024-55889
phpMyFAQ Vulnerable to Unintended File Download Triggered by Embedded Frames
phpMyFAQ is an open source FAQ web application. Prior to version 3.2.10, a vulnerability exists in the FAQ Record component where a privileged attacker can trigger a file download on a victim's machine upon page visit by embedding it in an <iframe> element without user interaction or explicit consent. Version 3.2.10 fixes the issue.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- High
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- None
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- None
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
4.9
phpMyFAQ Vulnerable to Unintended File Download Triggered by Embedded Frames
phpMyFAQ is an open source FAQ web application. Prior to version 3.2.10, a vulnerability exists in the FAQ Record component where a privileged attacker can trigger a file download on a victim's machine upon page visit by embedding it in an <iframe> element without user interaction or explicit consent. Version 3.2.10 fixes the issue.
- Record
CVE-2024-55889- CVSS 3.1
- 4.9 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-451
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2024-3486
4.9
phpMyFAQ is an open source FAQ web application. Prior to version 3.2.10, a vulnerability exists in the FAQ Record component where a privileged attacker can trigger a file download on a victim's machine upon page visit by embedding it in an <iframe> element without user interaction or explicit consent. Version 3.2.10 fixes the issue.
- Record
EUVD-2024-3486- CVSS 3.1
- 4.9 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-m3r7-8gw7-qwvc
4.9
thorsten/phpmyfaq Unintended File Download Triggered by Embedded Frames
Summary
A vulnerability exists in the FAQ Record component where a privileged attacker can trigger a file download on a victim's machine upon page visit by embedding it in an <iframe> element without user interaction or explicit consent.
Details
In http://localhost/admin/index.php?action=editentry&id=20&lang=en, where a FAQ record is either created or edited, an attacker can insert an iframe, as "source code", pointing to a prior "malicious" attachment that the attacker has uploaded via FAQ "new attachment" upload, such that any page visits to this FAQ will trigger an automated download (from the edit screen, download is automated; from the faq page view as a normal user, depending on the browser, a pop up confirmation may be presented before the actual download. Firebox browser, for instance, does not require any interactions).
PoC
-
create a new FAQ record and upload a "malicious" file - in my case, I uploaded an eicar file. take note of the uri, ie <p><iframe "index.php?action=attachment&id=2"
-
in the FAQ record, insert a "source code" blob using the "< >" button
-
insert in the following snippet: <p><iframe src="index.php?action=attachment&id=2"></iframe></p> and save FAQ record
-
once the edit page reloads, the malicious code will be downloaded onto the local machine without user interaction:
(uploaded a POC for easy demonstration: https://roy.demo.phpmyfaq.de/admin/index.php?action=editentry&id=20&lang=en although a fresh installation overwrites this demo instance every 24 hours)
(as a logged in normal user, visit: https://roy.demo.phpmyfaq.de/content/1/20/en/20.html)
Impact
Malicious code or binaries could be dropped on visitors' machines when visiting the FAQ platform. Take a worm or ransomware for instance.
- Record
GHSA-m3r7-8gw7-qwvc- CVSS 3.1
- 4.9 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-451
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
4.9
phpMyFAQ is an open source FAQ web application. Prior to version 3.2.10, a vulnerability exists in the FAQ Record component where a privileged attacker can trigger a file download on a victim's machine upon page visit by embedding it in an <iframe> element without user interaction or explicit consent. Version 3.2.10 fixes the issue.
- Record
CVE-2024-55889- CVSS 3.1
- 4.9 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N - CVSS 3.1
- 7.2 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-451
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
4.9
phpMyFAQ Vulnerable to Unintended File Download Triggered by Embedded Frames
phpMyFAQ is an open source FAQ web application. Prior to version 3.2.10, a vulnerability exists in the FAQ Record component where a privileged attacker can trigger a file download on a victim's machine upon page visit by embedding it in an <iframe> element without user interaction or explicit consent. Version 3.2.10 fixes the issue.
- Record
CVE-2024-55889- CVSS 3.1
- 4.9 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-451
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-m3r7-8gw7-qwvc
4.9
thorsten/phpmyfaq Unintended File Download Triggered by Embedded Frames
Summary
A vulnerability exists in the FAQ Record component where a privileged attacker can trigger a file download on a victim's machine upon page visit by embedding it in an <iframe> element without user interaction or explicit consent.
Details
In http://localhost/admin/index.php?action=editentry&id=20&lang=en, where a FAQ record is either created or edited, an attacker can insert an iframe, as "source code", pointing to a prior "malicious" attachment that the attacker has uploaded via FAQ "new attachment" upload, such that any page visits to this FAQ will trigger an automated download (from the edit screen, download is automated; from the faq page view as a normal user, depending on the browser, a pop up confirmation may be presented before the actual download. Firebox browser, for instance, does not require any interactions).
PoC
-
create a new FAQ record and upload a "malicious" file - in my case, I uploaded an eicar file. take note of the uri, ie <p><iframe "index.php?action=attachment&id=2"
-
in the FAQ record, insert a "source code" blob using the "< >" button
-
insert in the following snippet: <p><iframe src="index.php?action=attachment&id=2"></iframe></p> and save FAQ record
-
once the edit page reloads, the malicious code will be downloaded onto the local machine without user interaction:
(uploaded a POC for easy demonstration: https://roy.demo.phpmyfaq.de/admin/index.php?action=editentry&id=20&lang=en although a fresh installation overwrites this demo instance every 24 hours)
(as a logged in normal user, visit: https://roy.demo.phpmyfaq.de/content/1/20/en/20.html)
Impact
Malicious code or binaries could be dropped on visitors' machines when visiting the FAQ platform. Take a worm or ransomware for instance.
- Record
GHSA-m3r7-8gw7-qwvc- CVSS 3.1
- 4.9 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-451
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
thorsten/phpmyfaqPackagist |
before 3.2.10 | 3.2.10 |
thorsten/phpmyfaqPackagist |
before 3.2.10, plus listed versions 2.10.0-alpha2.8.02.8.0-RC2.8.0-RC22.8.0-RC3 Show 45 moreShow less2.8.0-RC42.8.0-alpha22.8.0-alpha32.8.0-beta2.8.0-beta22.8.0-beta32.8.12.8.102.8.112.8.122.8.132.8.142.8.152.8.162.8.172.8.182.8.192.8.22.8.202.8.212.8.222.8.232.8.242.8.252.8.262.8.272.8.282.8.292.8.32.8.42.8.52.8.62.8.72.8.82.8.92.9.02.9.0-alpha2.9.0-alpha22.9.0-alpha32.9.0-alpha42.9.0-beta2.9.0-beta22.9.0-rc2.9.0-rc22.9.0-rc3 |
3.2.10 |
Public exploits
Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.
| Source | Link | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Exploit-DB | phpMyFAQ 3.2.10 - Unintended File Download Triggered by Embedded Frames | 2025-04-16 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| aliases, published | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, Exploit-DB, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2024-55889 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 4.9) in Phpmyfaq, published December 13, 2024. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 2.19%, the 82nd percentile. Fixed in thorsten/phpmyfaq 3.2.10.
References
github.com/thorsten/phpMyFAQ/security/advisories/GHSA-m3r7-8gw7-qwvc
github.com/thorsten/phpMyFAQ/commit/fa0f7368dc3288eedb1915def64ef8fb270f711d
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-55889
github.com/advisories/GHSA-m3r7-8gw7-qwvc
github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2024/55xxx/CVE-2024-55889.json
github.com/thorsten/phpMyFAQ
Left out here: 76 versions. The JSON record has them.