CVE-2005-4650 in Joomla
Summary
by MITRE
Joomla! 1.03 does not restrict the number of "Search" Mambots, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (resource consumption) via a large number of Search Mambots.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/17/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4650 affects Joomla content management system, where the application fails to impose any limits on the number of search components that can be executed simultaneously. The flaw exists at the application logic level where the system processes user requests without proper bounds checking on the search bot parameters, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to exploit the system's resource handling mechanisms. The vulnerability operates under CWE-400 which classifies it as an Uncontrolled Resource Consumption issue, where the system's resources become exhausted due to improper resource management.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows remote attackers to submit requests containing an excessive number of Search Mambots, which the Joomla application's search functionality. This weakness directly impacts the system's ability to maintain acceptable performance levels and can be categorized under the ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for Network Denial of Service, where attackers consume network resources to prevent legitimate users from accessing services.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass broader system stability and availability concerns. When exploited successfully, the denial of service condition can affect all users of the Joomla 1.03 systems are particularly vulnerable because the application lacks built-in protection mechanisms to prevent or detect such resource abuse scenarios. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the application's defensive design patterns, where the system assumes that legitimate users will not attempt to overwhelm its processing capabilities through carefully crafted search requests.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and resource management controls within the Joomla! application. System administrators should consider applying immediate patches or updates to upgrade to versions that address this specific weakness, as the original 1.03 release contains no built-in protection against excessive search bot processing. The recommended approach involves establishing limits on concurrent search operations, implementing rate limiting mechanisms for search functionality, and monitoring resource consumption patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, network-level firewalls and intrusion detection systems can be configured to monitor for unusual search traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The fix should be implemented following security best practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines, ensuring that the solution does not introduce new vulnerabilities while effectively addressing the resource consumption issue. Organizations should also consider implementing application-level protections such as search query length limits, maximum result set restrictions, and automated alerting systems to detect and respond to potential denial of service attacks targeting the search functionality.