CVE-2006-5047 in RS Gallery2
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in rsgallery2.html.php in RS Gallery2 component (com_rsgallery2) before 1.11.3 for Joomla! allows attackers to execute arbitrary code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/09/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-5047 represents a critical security flaw within the RS Gallery2 component for Joomla websites, contained a code execution vulnerability that could be exploited by remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to affected systems. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability suggests a fundamental flaw in the component's input validation or parameter handling mechanisms that allowed malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary code on vulnerable servers. The vulnerability emerged within the rsgallery2.html.php file, indicating that the issue was rooted in the component's HTML rendering or parameter processing logic, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise Joomla! installations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from improper validation of user-supplied input parameters within the RS Gallery2 component. Attackers could manipulate specific parameters passed to the rsgallery2.html.php script to inject malicious code that would then be executed on the target server with the privileges of the web application. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of arbitrary code execution, which is classified as CWE-94 in the Common Weakness Enumeration system. The attack vector likely involved sending specially crafted HTTP requests containing malicious payloads that bypassed the component's security controls. The vulnerability's impact was particularly severe because it allowed attackers to execute code with the same privileges as the web server process, potentially enabling full system compromise. The flaw represents a classic example of a lack of proper input sanitization and parameter validation, which are fundamental security practices recommended by the OWASP Top Ten project and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework.
The operational impact of CVE-2006-5047 was substantial for Joomla! users and system administrators who had not yet updated to the patched version 1.11.3. Organizations running vulnerable RS Gallery2 installations faced the risk of complete system compromise, data theft, and potential use as a launching point for further attacks within their network infrastructure. The vulnerability could be exploited without authentication, making it particularly dangerous as attackers could target vulnerable sites without requiring valid user credentials. This attack scenario aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK framework's technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, where adversaries execute code through web application vulnerabilities. The exploitation could lead to persistent backdoors being installed, sensitive data being exfiltrated, or the affected servers being used for botnet activities. System administrators were forced to urgently patch their installations or implement temporary workarounds to prevent exploitation, highlighting the importance of timely security updates in maintaining robust cybersecurity postures.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability centered on immediate application of the vendor-supplied patch to version 1.11.3, which addressed the underlying code execution flaw. Organizations were advised to conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of the vulnerable RS Gallery2 component across their Joomla! installations. Security monitoring systems should have been enhanced to detect unusual patterns of parameterized requests that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscored the importance of implementing defense-in-depth strategies including web application firewalls, input validation controls, and regular security audits. Organizations were also encouraged to maintain updated inventories of all third-party components and plugins, as vulnerabilities in these extensions often represent the most common attack vectors for web applications. The incident highlighted the critical need for regular security patch management processes and the implementation of automated vulnerability scanning tools to proactively identify and remediate similar security flaws before they could be exploited by malicious actors.