CVE-2010-4268 in Com Flipwall
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the Pulse Infotech Flip Wall (com_flipwall) component 1.1 for Joomla! allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the catid parameter to index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/23/2025
The CVE-2010-4268 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Pulse Infotech Flip Wall component version 1.1 for Joomla where components often interact directly with database backends to retrieve and display dynamic content.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious catid parameter value that contains SQL payload commands. When the vulnerable component processes this input, it directly incorporates the unsanitized data into database queries without proper parameterization or escaping. This allows threat actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands that execute with the privileges of the database user account used by the Joomla! application. The impact extends beyond simple data retrieval as attackers can potentially extract sensitive information, modify database records, delete content, or even escalate privileges within the affected system. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws and represents a classic example of improper input validation in web applications.
Operationally, this vulnerability creates significant risks for Joomla with the vulnerable component installed, potentially affecting numerous organizations that rely on this content management system for their digital presence. The vulnerability can be leveraged to compromise entire databases, leading to data breaches, service disruption, and potential system compromise. Organizations may experience unauthorized access to sensitive customer information, financial data, or proprietary content stored within the database. This type of vulnerability also provides attackers with potential footholds for further lateral movement within network environments where the compromised Joomla! instance resides.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-4268 should focus on immediate remediation through component updates and patches provided by the vendor or the Joomla! security team. Organizations must ensure that all instances of the Pulse Infotech Flip Wall component are updated to versions that properly address the SQL injection vulnerability through proper input validation and parameterized queries. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and input filtering mechanisms can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. Database access controls should be reviewed to ensure that application accounts have minimal required privileges and that proper logging is enabled to detect unauthorized database access attempts. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual database query patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of regular security assessments and patch management processes that can prevent such critical flaws from being exploited in production environments. This case study exemplifies how seemingly minor input validation gaps can create major security risks in web applications, reinforcing the principles outlined in the ATT&CK framework for command and control operations and credential access techniques.