CVE-2017-7627 in Smart Related Articles Extension
Summary
by MITRE
The "Smart related articles" extension 1.1 for Joomla! does not prevent direct requests to dialog.php (there is a missing _JEXEC check).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/30/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7627 affects the Smart related articles extension version 1.1 for Joomla! platforms, representing a critical security oversight that exposes web applications to unauthorized access and potential exploitation. This flaw exists within the extension's dialog.php file, which serves as a component for managing related article functionality within the Joomla content management system. The vulnerability stems from the absence of proper access control mechanisms that should validate whether incoming requests originate from legitimate administrative contexts within the Joomla framework.
The technical flaw manifests as a missing _JEXEC check within the dialog.php script, which is a fundamental security validation mechanism required in Joomla extensions to prevent direct access to backend components. This validation check serves as a gatekeeper that ensures only authorized requests from within the Joomla application context can execute sensitive operations. Without this safeguard, malicious actors can directly call the dialog.php endpoint, bypassing the normal Joomla authorization flow and gaining access to administrative functions that should remain protected. This represents a classic case of insecure direct object reference vulnerability where the lack of proper access controls allows unauthorized users to manipulate system components directly.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with potential pathways for privilege escalation and data manipulation within the Joomla installation. An attacker who discovers the direct access point can potentially execute administrative commands, modify article content, access sensitive data, or even establish persistent access through the compromised extension. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in software systems, and can be categorized under the ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for spearphishing with social engineering. The exposure of administrative functionality through direct access points significantly increases the attack surface and can lead to complete system compromise if combined with other vulnerabilities or reconnaissance efforts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-7627 should prioritize immediate patching of the Smart related articles extension to version 1.2 or later, which includes the necessary _JEXEC validation. Organizations should also implement network-level restrictions to limit access to administrative endpoints, conduct thorough security audits of all installed Joomla extensions, and ensure proper access controls are enforced throughout the application. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls with rules specifically designed to detect and block direct access attempts to administrative scripts can provide additional layers of protection. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of proper input validation and access control implementation in web applications, particularly within content management systems where extensions can introduce significant security risks when not properly secured.