CVE-2012-2413 in Joomla
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the ja_purity template for Joomla! 1.5.26 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the Mod* cookie parameter to html/modules.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/31/2024
The CVE-2012-2413 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Joomla! content management system, specifically affecting versions 1.5.26 and earlier. This vulnerability resides in the ja_purity template component and demonstrates a classic input validation failure that enables malicious actors to execute arbitrary code within the context of a victim's browser session. The flaw manifests through improper sanitization of user-supplied data in the Mod cookie parameter, which is processed by the html/modules.php script, creating an exploitable vector for persistent XSS attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate output encoding and input validation mechanisms within the Joomla! framework's template processing pipeline. When the system processes the Mod* cookie parameter through the modules.php endpoint, it fails to properly escape or validate the data before rendering it within the web page context. This allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript payloads or HTML content that gets executed whenever the affected page is loaded by a victim. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through various attack vectors including phishing campaigns, social engineering, or by compromising legitimate user sessions.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to Joomla! installations using the affected ja_purity template, as it enables attackers to perform session hijacking, deface websites, steal sensitive user information, or redirect victims to malicious sites. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation does not require physical access to the system or elevated privileges, making it particularly dangerous for widely deployed CMS installations. The vulnerability can be leveraged to establish persistent backdoors, harvest user credentials, or conduct further reconnaissance activities within the compromised environment, potentially leading to full system compromise.
Security practitioners should immediately implement mitigations including updating to Joomla! version 1.5.27 or later, which contains the necessary patches for this vulnerability. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing content security policies, input validation rules, and regular security audits of template components. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and represents a common attack pattern categorized under ATT&CK technique T1566 for initial access through social engineering. Organizations should also review their cookie handling mechanisms and implement proper output encoding practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities in custom template development and third-party extensions.