2FA bypass via resettable session throttle
Published Aug 19, 2026 · Updated Aug 19, 2026
Authentication bypass in phpMyFAQ before 4.1.7 allows remote attackers with a valid password to defeat TOTP-based 2FA. In AuthenticationController, the 2FA failure counter is stored only in the session, reset to 0 on each successful POST /authenticate, and enforced by POST /check without any persistent per-account or per-IP throttle. An attacker who knows a victim's password can start fresh sessions or re-authenticate after five guesses to continue automated TOTP guessing until a valid code is accepted, yielding the victim's authenticated session.
Summary
What happened
Authentication bypass in phpMyFAQ before 4.1.7 allows remote attackers with a valid password to defeat TOTP-based 2FA. In AuthenticationController, the 2FA failure counter is stored only in the session, reset to 0 on each successful POST /authenticate, and enforced by POST /check without any persistent per-account or per-IP throttle. An attacker who knows a victim's password can start fresh sessions or re-authenticate after five guesses to continue automated TOTP guessing until a valid code is accepted, yielding the victim's authenticated session.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-76213
- Published
- Aug 19, 2026
- Updated
- Aug 19, 2026
- Vendor
- Thorsten Rinne
- Product
- phpMyFAQ
- Classifications
- CWE-307, T1110
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 19, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 19, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=0 <4.1.7
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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