CVE-2023-53929: Thorsten/phpmyfaq PhpMyFAQ Contains A CSV Injection Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-x2v3-9p22-w3x6
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CVSS 8.8
CWE-1236
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2023-53929 is a MODERATE (CVSS 8.8) phpmyfaq contains a csv injection vulnerability (CWE-1236: Improper Neutralization of Formula Elements in a CSV File) affecting Thorsten/phpmyfaq libraries in the Packagist ecosystem. The issue involves phpmyfaq contains a csv injection vulnerability. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2023-53929 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-53929
GHSA Identifier GHSA-x2v3-9p22-w3x6
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 8.8
CWE Classification CWE-1236: Improper Neutralization of Formula Elements in a CSV File
Affected Product Thorsten/phpmyfaq
Package Ecosystem Packagist
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 8.8

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required Low (PR:L)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2023-53929

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Thorsten/phpmyfaq dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

thorsten/phpmyfaq fixed: Latest secure release 
Upgrade thorsten/phpmyfaq to Latest secure release
phpmyfaq/phpmyfaq fixed: Latest secure release 
Upgrade phpmyfaq/phpmyfaq to Latest secure release
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

inspect dependencies for thorsten/phpmyfaq

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2023-53929, inspect your project dependencies for Thorsten/phpmyfaq:

inspect dependencies for thorsten/phpmyfaq

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Thorsten/phpmyfaq in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than the patched release), your application is affected.

Note: Verify declared build manifests and deployed runtime container environments.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-1236: Improper Neutralization of Formula Elements in a CSV File, where the product saves user-provided information into a comma-separated value (csv) file, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could be interpreted as a command when the file is opened by a spreadsheet product. In Thorsten/phpmyfaq, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

phpMyFAQ 3.1.12 contains a CSV injection vulnerability that allows authenticated users to inject malicious formulas into their profile names. Attackers can modify their user profile name with a payload like 'calc|a!z|' to trigger code execution when an administrator exports user data as a CSV file.

CVE-2023-53929 Affected Thorsten/phpmyfaq Versions

2 component(s)
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
thorsten/phpmyfaq
 Packagist
≤ 3.1.12
phpmyfaq/phpmyfaq
 Packagist
≤ 3.1.12

References

NVD — CVE-2023-53929 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-53929
Thorsten/phpmyfaq Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/thorsten/phpMyFAQ
www.exploit-db.com/exploits/51399 WEB
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/51399
www.phpmyfaq.de WEB
https://www.phpmyfaq.de
www.vulncheck.com/advisories/phpmyfaq... WEB
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/phpmyfaq-csv-injection-via-user-profile-export

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-53929?
CVE-2023-53929 is a security vulnerability in Thorsten/phpmyfaq involving phpMyFAQ contains a CSV injection vulnerability under CWE-1236: Improper Neutralization of Formula Elements in a CSV File.
Which Thorsten/phpmyfaq versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches across affected packages: thorsten/phpmyfaq, phpmyfaq/phpmyfaq.
What version fixes CVE-2023-53929?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is thorsten/phpmyfaq affected?
Yes, thorsten/phpmyfaq is affected in releases prior to Latest secure release. Upgrade your dependency to Latest secure release or later.
Is phpmyfaq/phpmyfaq affected?
Yes, phpmyfaq/phpmyfaq is affected in releases prior to Latest secure release. Upgrade your dependency to Latest secure release or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-53929?
CVE-2023-53929 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-53929?
CVE-2023-53929 is classified under CWE-1236: Improper Neutralization of Formula Elements in a CSV File (The product saves user-provided information into a Comma-Separated Value (CSV) file, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could be interpreted as a command when the file is opened by a spreadsheet product.).
How can I check Packagist dependencies for CVE-2023-53929?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for thorsten/phpmyfaq'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-x2v3-9p22-w3x6",
  "modified" : "2026-01-02T15:47:39Z",
  "published" : "2025-12-18T00:34:08Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-53929" ],
  "summary" : "phpMyFAQ contains a CSV injection vulnerability",
  "details" : "phpMyFAQ 3.1.12 contains a CSV injection vulnerability that allows authenticated users to inject malicious formulas into their profile names. Attackers can modify their user profile name with a payload like 'calc|a!z|' to trigger code execution when an administrator exports user data as a CSV file.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  }, {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:A/VC:N/VI:N/VA:N/SC:H/SI:H/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Packagist",
      "name" : "thorsten/phpmyfaq"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "last_affected" : "3.1.12"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Packagist",
      "name" : "phpmyfaq/phpmyfaq"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "last_affected" : "3.1.12"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-53929"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/thorsten/phpMyFAQ"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/51399"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.phpmyfaq.de"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/phpmyfaq-csv-injection-via-user-profile-export"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-1236" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-01-02T15:47:39Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2025-12-17T23:15:52Z"
  }
}