CVE-2011-0005 in Com Search
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the com_search module for Joomla! 1.0.x through 1.0.15 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the ordering parameter to index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2024
The CVE-2011-0005 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Joomla! version 1.0.x through 1.0.15, specifically affecting the com_search module component. This vulnerability exposes web applications to malicious injection attacks that can compromise user sessions and data integrity. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input parameters, particularly the ordering parameter in the index.php file, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which categorizes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a classic example of client-side code injection that can escalate to more severe security incidents.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the com_search module processes the ordering parameter without adequate input validation or output encoding. Attackers can craft malicious URLs containing script tags or other HTML content within the ordering parameter, which gets reflected back to users browsing the affected Joomla! site. When other users access these maliciously crafted URLs, their browsers execute the injected scripts in the context of the vulnerable application, potentially stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or performing unauthorized actions on behalf of the victims. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which describes social engineering attacks through malicious content injection, and specifically targets the web application layer where user input is not properly sanitized.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-0005 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can facilitate session hijacking, credential theft, and data manipulation within the compromised application. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to create persistent backdoors, modify content, or redirect users to phishing sites that appear legitimate. The vulnerability affects the entire Joomla! 1.0.x series, which was a legacy version that many organizations had not updated, making it particularly dangerous as it exploited a known flaw in widely deployed systems. Organizations running these vulnerable versions faced significant risk of unauthorized access and data breaches, as the vulnerability required no authentication to exploit and could be triggered simply by visiting a maliciously crafted URL. The impact is amplified by the fact that this vulnerability could be exploited across multiple user sessions and could potentially be chained with other vulnerabilities to achieve more sophisticated attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-0005 focus on immediate patching and input validation improvements. Organizations should upgrade to supported Joomla! versions immediately, as version 1.0.15 was the final release in the 1.0.x series and no further security updates were provided. The recommended approach includes implementing proper input sanitization techniques such as output encoding, parameter validation, and the use of secure coding practices that prevent user-supplied data from being executed as code. Additionally, organizations should deploy web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious input patterns, implement content security policies to restrict script execution, and conduct regular security audits to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of keeping web applications updated and the necessity of robust input validation mechanisms to prevent injection attacks.