CVE-2010-1493 in Com Awdwall
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the AWDwall (com_awdwall) component before 1.5.5 for Joomla! allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the cbuser parameter in an awdwall action to index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2025
The CVE-2010-1493 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the AWDwall component for Joomla! platforms, specifically affecting versions prior to 1.5.5. This vulnerability resides in the component's handling of user input through the cbuser parameter within the awdwall action of the index.php script. The flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate database queries by injecting malicious SQL code through the affected parameter, potentially enabling full database compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive information.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection as a fundamental weakness in application security where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL queries without proper sanitization or parameterization. The vulnerability occurs because the component fails to properly validate or escape user-supplied input before incorporating it into database queries. When an attacker submits malicious input through the cbuser parameter, the application processes this data directly within the SQL execution context, creating an opportunity for arbitrary SQL command execution. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1071.004, which describes application layer protocol manipulation, specifically targeting web application interfaces.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-1493 extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise through database manipulation, user credential theft, and potential lateral movement within affected networks. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive information from the database, modify existing records, create new user accounts with elevated privileges, or even execute operating system commands if the database server allows such operations. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from any location without requiring physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous for web applications hosting sensitive data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve immediate patching of the AWDwall component to version 1.5.5 or later, which includes proper input validation and sanitization measures. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation at multiple layers including application-level parameter sanitization, database query parameterization, and web application firewall rules to detect and block malicious SQL injection attempts. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual database access patterns and unauthorized data manipulation activities. The vulnerability underscores the importance of keeping content management systems and their components updated, as well as implementing proper security configurations that limit database privileges and enforce principle of least privilege access controls. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar injection vulnerabilities in other application components, as SQL injection remains one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws according to OWASP Top Ten project classifications.