CVE-2010-4618 in aiContactSafe
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Algis Info aiContactSafe component before 2.0.14 for Joomla! allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/08/2019
The CVE-2010-4618 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Algis Info aiContactSafe component for Joomla websites that utilized this contact management component. The flaw allowed remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code into web pages viewed by other users, creating a persistent threat vector that could compromise user sessions and data integrity.
The technical nature of this XSS vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the aiContactSafe component's processing mechanisms. Attackers could exploit unspecified vectors to inject malicious payloads that would execute in the context of other users' browsers when they accessed affected pages. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, where the system fails to properly validate or encode user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 which involves executing malicious code through web interfaces, particularly targeting web application vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extended beyond simple script injection, as it could enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user information, manipulate data within the application, or redirect users to malicious websites. Since the aiContactSafe component was commonly used for contact forms and user interactions, the attack surface was substantial, potentially affecting numerous Joomla! installations across various industries and organizations. The vulnerability's persistence meant that once exploited, malicious scripts would continue to execute for all users who accessed affected pages until the component was updated.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-4618 required immediate action from system administrators to upgrade to aiContactSafe version 2.0.14 or later, which contained the necessary patches to address the XSS vulnerability. Organizations should have implemented comprehensive input validation measures, including proper encoding of user inputs before rendering them in web pages, and established regular security auditing processes to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. The incident highlighted the importance of keeping third-party Joomla! components updated and following security best practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten project, particularly focusing on preventing XSS attacks through proper input sanitization and output encoding techniques.