CVE-2008-5793 in Clickheat-heatmap
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple PHP remote file inclusion vulnerabilities in the Clickheat - Heatmap stats (com_clickheat) component 1.0.1 for Joomla! allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via a URL in the (1) GLOBALS[mosConfig_absolute_path] parameter to (a) install.clickheat.php, (b) Cache.php and (c) Clickheat_Heatmap.php in Recly/Clickheat/, and (d) Recly/common/GlobalVariables.php; and the (2) mosConfig_absolute_path parameter to (e) _main.php and (f) main.php in includes/heatmap, and (g) includes/overview/main.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2024
The CVE-2008-5793 vulnerability represents a critical remote file inclusion flaw affecting the Clickheat heatmap statistics component version 1.0.1 for Joomla! platforms. This vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization within multiple PHP files that handle path resolution and component initialization. The affected files include install.clickheat.php, Cache.php, Clickheat_Heatmap.php, GlobalVariables.php, _main.php, main.php, and includes/overview/main.php, all of which process user-supplied path parameters without adequate security controls.
The technical flaw manifests when the application fails to properly validate or sanitize the GLOBALS[mosConfig_absolute_path] and mosConfig_absolute_path parameters, allowing attackers to inject malicious URLs that get included and executed as PHP code. This creates a classic remote code execution vector where an attacker can manipulate the application's include mechanism to load and execute arbitrary PHP scripts hosted on remote servers. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects core application components that handle user input and system path resolution, making it exploitable through various attack vectors within the Joomla! ecosystem.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. Successful exploitation enables attackers to execute arbitrary code on the affected Joomla! server with the privileges of the web application user. This can lead to complete system compromise, data theft, defacement, or the installation of backdoors. The vulnerability affects multiple files across different directories within the Clickheat component, providing attackers with several potential attack surfaces and increasing the likelihood of successful exploitation. The remote nature of the vulnerability means attackers can exploit it without requiring local access or authentication, making it particularly dangerous in publicly accessible web environments.
Security mitigations for CVE-2008-5793 should focus on immediate patching of the vulnerable Clickheat component to version 1.0.2 or later, which contains the necessary input validation fixes. Organizations should implement proper parameter validation and sanitization throughout their Joomla ecosystem.