CVE-2010-1304 in Com Userstatus
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in userstatus.php in the User Status (com_userstatus) component 1.21.16 for Joomla! allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the controller parameter to index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/08/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-1304 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the User Status component for Joomla! version 1.21.16. This security weakness resides in the userstatus.php script which fails to properly validate user input parameters, specifically the controller parameter passed through index.php. The flaw enables malicious actors to manipulate file access paths by exploiting the .. (dot dot) sequence commonly used to navigate up directory levels in file systems. This directory traversal vulnerability falls under the CWE-22 category, which classifies improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, also known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the application processes the controller parameter without adequate sanitization or validation checks. When a remote attacker submits a crafted request containing directory traversal sequences in the controller parameter, the application interprets these sequences and attempts to access files outside the intended directory structure. This allows unauthorized access to sensitive system files that should remain protected from public viewing. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it can potentially expose configuration files, database credentials, user information, and other critical system data that resides on the web server.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-1304 extends beyond simple file reading capabilities and can lead to complete system compromise. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can access not only configuration files but also potentially gain access to database connection strings, user credentials, and other sensitive information that could facilitate further attacks. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1566 (Phishing) as attackers may use the stolen information to conduct more sophisticated social engineering campaigns. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) since access to system files may enable execution of malicious commands or scripts.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of the affected Joomla! component to version 1.21.17 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. System administrators should implement input validation and sanitization measures to prevent malicious parameter manipulation, particularly for all parameters that influence file access operations. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and privilege separation can limit the damage that could occur if such vulnerabilities are exploited. Network segmentation and web application firewalls should be configured to monitor and block suspicious directory traversal patterns. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning to identify similar weaknesses in other components and ensure comprehensive protection against such attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper parameter validation and input sanitization as fundamental security practices that should be implemented across all web applications to prevent unauthorized file access and system compromise.