CVE-2013-7429 in Googlemaps Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The Googlemaps plugin before 3.1 for Joomla! allows remote attackers to conduct XML injection attacks via the url parameter to plugin_googlemap2_proxy.php.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/26/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-7429 affects the Googlemaps plugin version 3.0 and earlier for Joomla! content management systems, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute XML injection attacks. This vulnerability specifically targets the plugin_googlemap2_proxy.php component which processes external URL requests through the url parameter, creating an attack surface that can be exploited without authentication. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the plugin's proxy functionality, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary XML content that gets processed by the underlying system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of user-supplied input through the url parameter, which is directly passed to XML parsing functions without adequate sanitization or validation. When an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing XML injection payloads, the plugin processes this input through its proxy mechanism, potentially leading to XML External Entity (XXE) injection or other XML-related vulnerabilities. This type of flaw falls under the CWE-91 vulnerability category, specifically CWE-912 which addresses "Incorrect Handling of XML" and can be linked to broader CWE-444 which covers "Incorrect Handling of Malformed XML." The vulnerability's exploitation pathway demonstrates a classic case of insufficient input validation, where the system fails to properly sanitize external input before processing it as structured data.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-7429 extends beyond simple data injection, as successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information, remote code execution, or denial of service conditions within the affected Joomla installation using the vulnerable Googlemaps plugin version, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users have access to the web application. This represents a significant threat to organizations relying on Joomla! for their web presence, as the vulnerability can be exploited through simple HTTP requests without requiring any special privileges or authentication credentials.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of the affected Googlemaps plugin to version 3.1 or later, which includes proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms. Organizations should implement network-level restrictions to prevent unauthorized access to the plugin's proxy functionality and consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious XML injection attempts. The remediation process should also include comprehensive security auditing of all installed Joomla! plugins to identify similar vulnerabilities, as this flaw demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in web applications. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and monitoring mechanisms can help detect exploitation attempts, while following secure coding practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST Special Publication 800-160 can help prevent similar vulnerabilities in future development cycles. This vulnerability underscores the critical importance of regular security updates and the implementation of defense-in-depth strategies to protect web applications from injection attacks that can compromise entire systems.