GHSA-vrjr-p3xp-xx2x
phpMyFAQ Generates an Error Message Containing Sensitive Information if database server is not available
Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Packagist | thorsten/phpmyfaq | < 4.0.0 | 4.0.0 |
Details
As written in the advisory (Markdown source, shown as plain text).
### Summary
Exposure of database (ie postgreSQL) server's credential when connection to DB fails.
### Details
Exposed database credentials upon misconfig/DoS @ permalink: https://github.com/thorsten/phpMyFAQ/blob/main/phpmyfaq/src/phpMyFAQ/Setup/Installer.php#L694
### PoC
When postgreSQL server is unreachable, an error would be thrown exposing the credentials of the database. For instance, when "http://<phpmyfaq-instance>:8080/setup/index.php" is hit when the database instance/server is down, then credentials are exposed, for instance:
```
( ! ) Warning: pg_connect(): Unable to connect to PostgreSQL server: connection to server at "127.0.0.1", port 5432 failed: Connection refused Is the server running on that host and accepting TCP/IP connections? in /var/www/html/src/phpMyFAQ/Database/Pgsql.php on line 78
Call Stack
# Time Memory Function Location
1 0.0404 453880 {main}( ) .../index.php:0
2 1.1341 610016 phpMyFAQ\Setup\Installer->startInstall( $setup = ??? ) .../index.php:471
3 1.2113 611544 phpMyFAQ\Database\Pgsql->connect( $host = '127.0.0.1', $user = 'cvecve', $password = '<redacted>', $database = 'cvecve', $port = 5432 ) .../Installer.php:694
4 1.2113 611864 pg_connect( $connection_string = 'host=127.0.0.1 port=5432 dbname=cvecve user=cvecve password=<redacted>' ) .../Pgsql.php:78
( ! ) Fatal error: Uncaught TypeError: Cannot assign false to property phpMyFAQ\Database\Pgsql::$conn of type ?PgSql\Connection in /var/www/html/src/phpMyFAQ/Database/Pgsql.php on line 78
( ! ) TypeError: Cannot assign false to property phpMyFAQ\Database\Pgsql::$conn of type ?PgSql\Connection in /var/www/html/src/phpMyFAQ/Database/Pgsql.php on line 78
Call Stack
# Time Memory Function Location
1 0.0404 453880 {main}( ) .../index.php:0
2 1.1341 610016 phpMyFAQ\Setup\Installer->startInstall( $setup = ??? ) .../index.php:471
3 1.2113 611544 phpMyFAQ\Database\Pgsql->connect( $host = '127.0.0.1', $user = 'cvecve', $password = '<redacted>', $database = 'cvecve', $port = 5432 ) .../Installer.php:694
```

A way to force this would be to perform a denial of service on the database instance/server. When the db connection is refused, the credentials would show. The remote attacker can then use that to gain full control on the database.
### Impact
This vulnerability exposes the credentials of the database and grants a remote attacker full control over the database.
First notified Snyk on 16 Jan 2024.
References
External links from the advisory. They lead to third-party sites.