CVE-2012-0835 in Joomla
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Joomla! 1.7.x before 1.7.5 and 2.5.x before 2.5.1 allows attackers to obtain sensitive information via unknown vectors related to "administrator."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/21/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-0835 represents a critical information disclosure flaw affecting Joomla installations, creating a pathway for malicious actors to access sensitive system information that should remain protected. The unspecified nature of the exact attack vectors makes this vulnerability particularly concerning as it may encompass multiple exploitation techniques that could be leveraged by threat actors. The vulnerability affects Joomla
ecosystem during that period.
The technical flaw underlying CVE-2012-0835 stems from inadequate input validation and access control mechanisms within the administrator interface components of Joomla!. This weakness allows unauthorized users to bypass normal authentication and authorization checks, potentially gaining access to administrative functions and sensitive data that should only be available to legitimate administrators. The vulnerability's classification as an information disclosure issue means that attackers can extract confidential information including but not limited to user credentials, system configurations, database structures, and administrative access tokens. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which specifically addresses "Information Exposure" in software applications where sensitive data is inadvertently exposed to unauthorized parties.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information theft, as it can serve as a foundational weakness enabling more sophisticated attacks within the target environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially escalate privileges, modify administrative settings, access restricted files, and ultimately gain full control over the affected Joomla platforms, particularly those with high-value administrative data or those serving as entry points to larger network infrastructures. The exposure of administrator-related information can facilitate privilege escalation attacks and provide attackers with critical intelligence for planning further infiltration attempts.
Organizations affected by CVE-2012-0835 should immediately implement comprehensive security measures including prompt patching to the latest stable versions of Joomla installations to identify any other potential vulnerabilities that may have been exploited through this information disclosure weakness. The remediation process should include implementing web application firewalls, establishing proper logging and monitoring of administrative access, and ensuring that all user accounts maintain appropriate privilege levels. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and proper access control configurations in preventing unauthorized system access and data breaches. The attack surface for such vulnerabilities aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers legitimate credentials and privileges, highlighting how information disclosure can lead to broader compromise scenarios within target environments.