CVE-2026-56738: phpMyFAQ has SQL Injection in `StopWords::add()` — Unescaped Stop Word Insertion

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2026-56738 is a high (CVSS 8.5) SQL Injection vulnerability in thorsten phpmyfaq. EPSS estimates a 0.26% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 16.8% of scored vulnerabilities.

Timeline

1. 24-09-2026
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 05-10-2026
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

phpMyFAQ is an open source FAQ web application. The `StopWords::add()` method inversions prior to 4.1.6 builds a SQL `INSERT` statement using `sprintf()` and inserts the user-supplied stop word value directly into the query string without calling the application's database escaping function on it. A sibling method, `StopWords::update()`, which modifies an existing stop word, correctly escapes the same kind of input. The omission is isolated to the `add()` (insert) code path. An authenticated administrator who can reach the stop-word management feature can submit a crafted value as the "word" parameter that breaks out of the SQL string literal and injects arbitrary SQL, including statements to drop tables, exfiltrate data, or modify other rows in the database. Version 4.1.6 fixes the issue.

• CWE-89Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')The product constructs all or part of an SQL command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended SQL command when it is sent to a downstream component. Without sufficient removal or quoting of SQL syntax in user-controllable inputs, the generated SQL query can cause those inputs to be interpreted as SQL instead of ordinary user data.