CVE-2007-4189 in Joomla
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Joomla! before 1.0.13 (aka Sunglow) allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors in the (1) com_search, (2) com_content, and (3) mod_login components. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/17/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-4189 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Joomla content management system, specifically targeting the com_search, com_content, and mod_login modules. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of other users' browsers, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity. The vulnerability's classification as a persistent security weakness stems from the fact that it allows attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML code into web pages viewed by other users, creating a significant threat vector for malicious actors seeking to exploit user trust in legitimate websites.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the affected Joomla! components. Attackers can leverage these weaknesses by crafting malicious payloads that are then processed and displayed by the vulnerable components without proper security filtering. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability may manifest through various user input points including form submissions, URL parameters, or content management interfaces. The flaw operates by bypassing the application's security controls designed to prevent malicious code execution, allowing attackers to inject scripts that can execute in the victim's browser context. This type of vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79 as "Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')", which is a fundamental web application security weakness that has been consistently identified as one of the most prevalent security flaws in web applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-4189 extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling attackers to perform session hijacking, deface websites, steal sensitive information, or redirect users to malicious sites. When exploited through the com_search component, attackers could inject malicious scripts into search results, affecting all users who view those results. The com_content component vulnerability allows for script injection within article content, potentially compromising content integrity and user trust. The mod_login component presents a particularly dangerous attack surface since login modules are frequently accessed and trusted by users, making successful exploitation more likely to result in account compromise. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple components indicates a systemic security weakness in the Joomla! application's input handling architecture, suggesting that the underlying security controls were inadequately implemented or tested.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-4189 primarily focus on immediate system updates and input validation improvements. The most effective solution involves upgrading to Joomla installations to identify potentially affected components and ensure that all user inputs are properly validated and sanitized before processing. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and security monitoring systems can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's characteristics align with ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which describes the use of malicious content to gain initial access through web application attacks, making it essential for security operations to treat this as a high-priority remediation task within their vulnerability management programs.