CVE-2010-2046 in Com Activehelper Livehelp
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the ActiveHelper LiveHelp (com_activehelper_livehelp) component 2.0.3 for Joomla! allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) the DOMAINID parameter to server/cookies.php or (2) the SERVER parameter to server/index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/31/2017
The CVE-2010-2046 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the ActiveHelper LiveHelp component version 2.0.3 for Joomla content management system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of affected users' browsers through two primary attack vectors. The first vector involves manipulation of the DOMAINID parameter within the server/cookies.php file, while the second targets the SERVER parameter in server/index.php. Both attack paths exploit the component's failure to properly sanitize or validate input data before processing, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious HTML or JavaScript code that executes in the victim's browser context. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws due to insufficient input validation.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-2046 extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it enables attackers to hijack user sessions, redirect victims to malicious websites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. When exploited, these vulnerabilities can compromise the integrity of the Joomla! site and potentially lead to complete system compromise if attackers can leverage the XSS to access administrative functions. The vulnerability affects the component's live help functionality, which typically requires user interaction and authentication, making the attack surface particularly concerning for websites that rely on real-time customer support features.
Security practitioners should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and sanitization of all parameters passed to the affected component's server scripts. The recommended approach involves filtering all user-supplied input through proper sanitization routines that remove or escape potentially dangerous characters and patterns. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing content security policies to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts, and regular security audits should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other third-party components. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.002 which covers command and scripting interpreter for web shell execution, highlighting the broader threat landscape where such XSS vulnerabilities can serve as initial access vectors for more sophisticated attacks.