CVE-2007-5577 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 the (1) Title or (2) Section Name form fields in the Section Manager component, or (3) multiple unspecified fields in New Menu Item.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/29/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-5577 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Joomla for their operational infrastructure. The flaw enables malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of a victim's browser session, potentially compromising user data and system integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the Joomla! application's form handling mechanisms. Attackers can exploit three distinct vectors to inject malicious payloads: the Title field within the Section Manager component, the Section Name form field in the same component, and multiple unspecified fields during the New Menu Item creation process. These vectors demonstrate a lack of proper parameter validation and sanitization across different areas of the application's user interface, creating multiple attack surfaces for exploitation. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as the injection of malicious code into web applications, making it a fundamental web application security weakness.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, data theft, and redirection to malicious websites. When exploited, these XSS vulnerabilities can allow attackers to steal user credentials, manipulate application data, or even take complete control of user sessions. The implications are particularly severe for content management systems like Joomla! which serve as the foundation for numerous websites and web applications, potentially affecting thousands of users and organizations that rely on the platform for their digital presence. This vulnerability represents a significant risk to web application security and demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in web applications.
Organizations utilizing affected Joomla development team, which address the input validation issues in the Section Manager and menu creation components. The recommended mitigation strategy includes not only applying the official patch but also implementing additional security measures such as web application firewalls, input sanitization at multiple layers, and regular security assessments. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering tactics including the use of malicious links and content to compromise systems. Administrators should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers and regular security monitoring to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the necessity of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing comprehensive security practices to protect against persistent threats in web application environments.