CVE-2011-4571 in Com Estateagent
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the Estate Agent (com_estateagent) component for Joomla! allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the id parameter in a showEO action to index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/22/2024
The CVE-2011-4571 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw within the Estate Agent component for Joomla content management systems. The flaw exists in the way the application processes user input through the id parameter in the showEO action of the index.php file, creating an exploitable path for malicious actors to manipulate database queries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the Joomla! component's backend processing. When a user submits a request containing an id parameter through the showEO action, the application fails to properly escape or validate this input before incorporating it into sql queries. This allows attackers to inject malicious sql code that gets executed by the database engine, potentially leading to complete database compromise. The vulnerability is classified as a classic sql injection attack where the attacker can manipulate the sql query structure through crafted input parameters, bypassing normal authentication and authorization mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-4571 extends beyond simple data theft or manipulation. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive property listings, customer information, and potentially administrative credentials stored within the database. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not need physical access to the server or network, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for web applications. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-89 which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in sql commands, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications. The compromise of the underlying database can lead to data exfiltration, data corruption, and in severe cases, complete system takeover through database-level privilege escalation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-4571 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected Joomla! component to the latest available version that addresses this specific vulnerability. Organizations should implement proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent similar issues in the future, ensuring all user inputs are properly sanitized before database interaction. Network-level protections including web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of defense. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar sql injection vulnerabilities across the entire application stack. System administrators should also consider implementing database query logging and monitoring to detect anomalous sql activity that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of keeping content management systems and their components updated with the latest security patches to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities that have been addressed in newer releases.