CVE-2011-4910 in Joomla
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Joomla! before 1.5.12 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the PATH_INFO.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/21/2019
The CVE-2011-4910 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Joomla framework, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of affected websites. The flaw resides in how the system processes URL paths that contain additional information beyond the basic script path, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML code through these parameters.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within Joomla!'s core processing logic. When the system receives a request containing PATH_INFO data, it fails to properly sanitize or escape this information before rendering it in web pages. This creates an environment where attacker-controlled data can be interpreted as executable code by web browsers, enabling malicious actors to inject scripts that execute in the context of legitimate user sessions. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and leverages the fundamental trust users place in websites, making it particularly dangerous for content management systems that handle sensitive user data and administrative functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data manipulation, and redirection to malicious sites. Given that Joomla for their web presence.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement the recommended security patches provided by Joomla! developers, specifically upgrading to version 1.5.12 or later. Additional mitigations include implementing robust input validation at multiple layers of the application architecture, deploying web application firewalls to filter suspicious PATH_INFO parameters, and conducting comprehensive security reviews of all web application inputs. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in software applications, and represents a classic example of how improper input handling can lead to severe security consequences. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.008 for scripting and T1566 for spearphishing with a link, as attackers can use the injected scripts to further compromise user sessions and expand their attack surface. Security teams should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts and establish monitoring procedures to detect unusual PATH_INFO usage patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.