CVE-2017-20268 in Zap Calendar Lite
Summary
by MITRE • 06/19/2026
Joomla! Component Zap Calendar Lite 4.3.4 contains an SQL injection vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary SQL queries by injecting malicious code through the 'eid' parameter. Attackers can send GET requests to the RSVP plugin endpoint with crafted SQL payloads to extract sensitive database information including database names and table structures.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/19/2026
This vulnerability resides within the Joomla! Zap Calendar Lite component version 4.3.4, representing a critical sql injection flaw that undermines the security posture of affected web applications. The vulnerability specifically manifests through the 'eid' parameter within the RSVP plugin endpoint, where insufficient input validation allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary sql commands. This weakness enables unauthenticated attackers to bypass normal access controls and directly interact with the underlying database system. The flaw operates at the application layer and follows the common pattern of sql injection vulnerabilities that have been consistently identified in web applications over decades of cybersecurity research. According to the common weakness enumeration framework, this vulnerability maps to cwe-89 which specifically addresses sql injection attacks where untrusted data is incorporated into sql queries without proper sanitization or parameterization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data extraction, as attackers can leverage the sql injection to perform complete database compromise operations. Through carefully crafted get requests containing malicious sql payloads, threat actors can enumerate database schemas, extract sensitive user credentials, access confidential business data, and potentially escalate privileges within the database environment. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire application stack since the calendar component likely stores user information, event details, and potentially administrative credentials within the database. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to personal information, session data, and other sensitive resources that the calendar component manages. The lack of authentication requirements for exploitation makes this particularly dangerous as it can be triggered by anyone with access to the vulnerable web application.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a prime example of why proper input validation and parameterized queries must be implemented at every level of application development. The attack vector demonstrates how a single unchecked parameter can provide complete database access, aligning with various tactics described in the attack tree framework where attackers progress from initial reconnaissance to full system compromise. Organizations running vulnerable versions of the zap calendar lite component should immediately implement patch management procedures to update to versions that properly sanitize input parameters and utilize prepared statements. The recommended mitigations include implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block sql injection patterns, conducting comprehensive security assessments of all installed components, and establishing proper database access controls that limit the privileges of web application accounts. Additionally, developers should adopt secure coding practices that emphasize the use of parameterized queries and input sanitization techniques to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future code implementations.