Stored XSS via post-sanitization entity decoding
Published Sep 4, 2026 · Updated Sep 4, 2026
Stored XSS in phpMyFAQ 4.0.8 through 4.1.7 allows remote authenticated users to execute JavaScript in FAQ viewers' browsers. FaqHelper::convertOldInternalLinks() decodes the entire sanitized answer before rewriting legacy URLs, restoring entity-encoded tags and event handlers as active markup. Exploitation requires FAQ editing privileges, a legacy-format internal URL in the answer, and a victim who views the published FAQ page.
Summary
What happened
Stored XSS in phpMyFAQ 4.0.8 through 4.1.7 allows remote authenticated users to execute JavaScript in FAQ viewers' browsers. FaqHelper::convertOldInternalLinks() decodes the entire sanitized answer before rewriting legacy URLs, restoring entity-encoded tags and event handlers as active markup. Exploitation requires FAQ editing privileges, a legacy-format internal URL in the answer, and a victim who views the published FAQ page.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-85593
- Published
- Sep 4, 2026
- Updated
- Sep 4, 2026
- Vendor
- Thorsten Rinne
- Product
- phpMyFAQ
- Classifications
- CWE-79, T1059.007
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 4, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Sep 4, 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 <4.1.8
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
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- Upstream stored-XSS proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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