CVE-2017-16634 in Joomla
Summary
by MITRE
In Joomla! before 3.8.2, a bug allowed third parties to bypass a user's 2-factor authentication method.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/23/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-16634 represents a critical security flaw in Joomla installations by allowing unauthorized parties to circumvent the additional authentication layer that should prevent unauthorized access to user accounts. The flaw exists within the Joomla! authentication framework where proper validation checks fail to adequately verify user credentials during the authentication process, creating an exploitable condition that bypasses the security controls designed to protect user accounts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and authentication flow control within the Joomla! core authentication modules. Attackers can exploit this flaw by manipulating specific parameters or request sequences that should normally trigger the two-factor authentication verification process. The vulnerability allows for a bypass condition where legitimate authentication attempts can be accepted without proper verification of the second authentication factor, effectively rendering the two-factor authentication mechanism ineffective. This issue is classified under CWE-287 which deals with improper authentication mechanisms and represents a direct violation of proper authentication protocol implementation.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-16634 extends beyond simple account compromise to potentially enable broader system infiltration and data breaches across affected Joomla for critical web applications where user authentication security is paramount.
Security practitioners should implement immediate mitigations including prompt upgrade to Joomla installations to identify any potential exploitation attempts and review authentication logs for suspicious activities. The mitigation strategy should also include monitoring for unusual authentication patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, as well as implementing additional security controls such as IP whitelisting and enhanced monitoring of authentication events. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers legitimate credentials usage, and represents a significant concern for organizations operating web applications that rely on multi-factor authentication for security protection.