CVE-2011-4909 in Joomla
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Joomla! before 1.5.12 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the HTTP_REFERER header to (1) components/com_content/views/article/tmpl/form.php, (2) components/com_user/controller.php, (3) plugins/system/legacy/html.php, or (4) templates/beez/html/com_content/article/form.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2024
The CVE-2011-4909 vulnerability represents a significant cross-site scripting flaw affecting Joomla framework including content management, user authentication, system plugins, and template rendering, indicating a widespread impact across the application's core functionality. The vulnerability's exploitation occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied input from the referer header before rendering it in web pages, creating opportunities for attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows the classic XSS attack pattern where malicious input is processed without proper sanitization, allowing attackers to inject HTML and JavaScript code that executes in the victim's browser. The specific file paths indicate that the vulnerability exists in both component-level controllers and system-level plugins, suggesting that the flaw originates from insufficient input validation at multiple layers of the application architecture. When an attacker crafts a malicious HTTP_REFERER header containing script tags or other malicious content and directs a victim to a vulnerable page, the application inadvertently includes this unfiltered input in the rendered HTML output. This creates a persistent XSS condition where the injected code executes every time the page is loaded, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-4909 extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to compromise user sessions and execute malicious activities within the context of legitimate users. When exploited, this vulnerability enables attackers to steal cookies, session tokens, and potentially access sensitive user data through the compromised browser sessions. The attack vector's reliance on the HTTP_REFERER header makes it particularly insidious since this header is often automatically populated by browsers and may not be explicitly controlled by application developers during input validation processes. The vulnerability affects multiple components simultaneously, meaning that attackers could potentially exploit it across different parts of the Joomla versions.
Security professionals should implement comprehensive mitigation strategies addressing the root cause of this vulnerability through proper input sanitization and output encoding practices. The recommended approach involves implementing strict validation of the HTTP_REFERER header and applying HTML escaping to all user-supplied content before rendering it in web pages. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of inline scripts and prevent unauthorized code execution. The vulnerability's remediation requires updating to Joomla! 1.5.12 or later versions, which contain proper input validation patches. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual referer header patterns that might indicate attempted exploitation, and regular security audits should verify that all input sources are properly sanitized. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to command and control through web application vulnerabilities, emphasizing the need for layered security approaches that protect against both known and emerging threats in web application environments.