CVE-2009-4233 in YJ Whois
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in modules/mod_yj_whois.php in the YJ Whois component 1.0x and 1.5.x for Joomla! allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the domain parameter to index.php. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-4233 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the YJ Whois component for Joomla! platforms, specifically affecting versions 1.0x and 1.5.x. This security weakness resides in the mod_yj_whois.php module and demonstrates a classic input validation failure that enables malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected user sessions. The vulnerability occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize user input passed through the domain parameter in the index.php script, creating an exploitable vector for persistent cross-site scripting attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input filtering and output encoding mechanisms within the Joomla! component. When users interact with the YJ Whois module and provide domain names through the domain parameter, the application processes this input without sufficient sanitization measures. This allows attackers to inject malicious payloads that can execute in the browser of unsuspecting users who visit pages utilizing the vulnerable component. The flaw operates at the application layer and specifically targets the component's handling of user-supplied data, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through standard web browser interactions without requiring special privileges or advanced techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable sophisticated attack vectors including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious websites. Attackers can craft malicious domain names containing script tags or other HTML content that gets rendered on legitimate user browsers, potentially leading to unauthorized access to user accounts, data exfiltration, or the deployment of additional malware. The vulnerability affects all users of affected Joomla! versions who have the YJ Whois component installed, creating a widespread attack surface that can be exploited across multiple websites simultaneously. This type of vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a critical failure in the application's security architecture.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-4233 should prioritize immediate patch application from the Joomla components and extensions, implement proper content security policies, and maintain updated security monitoring systems to detect potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar weaknesses in other application components and prevent future incidents of this nature.