CVE-2010-0157 in Com Biblestudy
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in the Bible Study (com_biblestudy) component 6.1 for Joomla! allows remote attackers to include and execute arbitrary local files via a .. (dot dot) in the controller parameter in a studieslist action to index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/20/2025
The CVE-2010-0157 vulnerability represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the Bible Study component version 6.1 for Joomla component's architecture, where the controller parameter fails to properly filter or escape special characters including the double dot sequence used for directory traversal.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability relies on the attacker's ability to manipulate the controller parameter to navigate through the file system hierarchy using the .. (dot dot) notation. When the Joomla! application processes this malformed input, it fails to validate whether the requested file path remains within the intended application boundaries, allowing attackers to traverse directories and access arbitrary local files on the server. This flaw operates at the intersection of improper input validation and insecure file handling practices, creating a pathway for attackers to include and execute local files that should remain protected from external access. The vulnerability specifically targets the component's studieslist action within the index.php file, making it particularly dangerous as it leverages the core application routing mechanism.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe threat to Joomla! installations running the affected Bible Study component version 6.1, potentially allowing remote attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the web server process. Attackers can leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system files, database credentials, or application configuration data, leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require local access or authentication to initiate the attack, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications. Organizations running affected systems face significant risks including data breaches, service disruption, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure.
Security mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-0157 should focus on immediate patching of the affected Joomla! component to version 6.2 or later, which includes proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms. System administrators should implement input filtering at multiple layers including web application firewalls, server-side validation, and application-level sanitization to prevent malicious traversal sequences from reaching the vulnerable code paths. Additionally, the principle of least privilege should be enforced by ensuring that web server processes operate with minimal required permissions and that sensitive files are properly protected through access control mechanisms. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 - Improper Limiting of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell, as attackers may use the compromised system to execute malicious PowerShell commands or scripts. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify other potentially vulnerable components and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place to prevent similar issues from arising in the future.