CVE-2010-4270 in Com Netinvoice
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in the nBill (com_netinvoice) component before 2.0.9 standard edition, 2.0.10 lite edition, and 1.2_10 for Joomla! allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via directory traversal sequences in unspecified vectors related to (1) administrator/components/com_nbill/admin.nbill.php, (2) components/com_nbill/nbill.php, (3) administrator/components/com_netinvoice/admin.netinvoice.php, or (4) components/com_netinvoice/netinvoice.php, as exploited in the wild in November 2010.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/17/2024
The CVE-2010-4270 vulnerability represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the nBill component for Joomla! platforms, affecting multiple version ranges including standard editions before 2.0.9, lite editions before 2.0.10, and version 1.2_10. This vulnerability stems from improper input validation mechanisms that fail to sanitize user-supplied data before processing file operations. The flaw specifically manifests in four key files: administrator/components/com_nbill/admin.nbill.php, components/com_nbill/nbill.php, administrator/components/com_netinvoice/admin.netinvoice.php, and components/com_netinvoice/netinvoice.php, all of which are susceptible to malicious directory traversal sequences. The vulnerability operates by allowing remote attackers to manipulate file path parameters through crafted input sequences that can traverse directory structures beyond intended boundaries. The exploitation occurred in the wild during November 2010, indicating that threat actors had already developed working payloads against this weakness.
The technical implementation of this directory traversal vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal. Attackers can leverage this weakness by injecting sequences such as "../" or similar path manipulation patterns into parameters that control file access operations. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects both administrator and frontend component files, providing attackers with potential access to sensitive system files, configuration data, and potentially database credentials stored within the Joomla installations.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-4270 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise. Remote attackers can read arbitrary files on the target system, potentially accessing sensitive data such as database connection strings, administrator credentials, and application configuration files. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1566 (Phishing with Malicious Attachments) as attackers may use the disclosed information to further compromise the system or conduct additional attacks. The vulnerability's exploitation in the wild during 2010 demonstrates that it was actively weaponized, suggesting that organizations running vulnerable versions were at significant risk of data breaches and system infiltration. The affected component's role in handling financial data within Joomla! installations makes the potential impact particularly severe for businesses using this platform for commerce or financial management.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-4270 require immediate patching of affected nBill components to versions 2.0.9 standard, 2.0.10 lite, or 1.2_10 respectively, as these releases contain the necessary input validation fixes. Organizations should implement proper input sanitization measures at all points where file paths are constructed from user input, ensuring that directory traversal sequences are properly filtered or rejected. Network-based mitigations include implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious path traversal patterns, particularly those involving "../" sequences. System administrators should also conduct comprehensive security audits to identify any other potentially vulnerable components within their Joomla! installations and ensure that all third-party extensions are kept current with security patches. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and demonstrates how seemingly small input validation flaws can create significant security risks in web applications. Regular security monitoring and vulnerability assessment procedures should be implemented to identify similar weaknesses in other components and prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the future.