CVE-2017-7628 in Smart Related Articles Extension
Summary
by MITRE
The "Smart related articles" extension 1.1 for Joomla! has SQL injection in dialog.php (attacker must use search_cats variable in POST method to exploit this vulnerability).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/26/2020
The CVE-2017-7628 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Smart related articles extension version 1.1 for Joomla! platforms. This vulnerability specifically affects the dialog.php script which processes user input through the search_cats variable in POST requests. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the extension's codebase, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands into the database query execution flow. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires minimal exploitation conditions, making it accessible to attackers with basic knowledge of SQL injection techniques.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the dialog.php script fails to properly escape or validate the search_cats parameter received via HTTP POST requests. This parameter is directly incorporated into database queries without appropriate sanitization measures, creating an exploitable path for attackers to manipulate the underlying database operations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and represents a classic example of insufficient input validation that enables unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion. Attackers can leverage this weakness to execute malicious SQL commands that may result in complete database compromise, user credential theft, or unauthorized administrative access to the Joomla! platform.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-7628 extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete system compromise potential. Successful exploitation allows attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms, escalate privileges, and potentially gain full administrative control over the affected Joomla platforms are widely deployed across various industries, making this vulnerability attractive to both targeted and opportunistic attackers.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-7628 must prioritize immediate patching of the Smart related articles extension to version 1.2 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. System administrators should implement comprehensive input validation and sanitization measures across all user-facing web applications, ensuring that all parameters are properly escaped before database processing occurs. Network-level protections including web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts. Regular security auditing and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other installed extensions and components. Organizations should also implement proper access controls and monitoring mechanisms to detect unauthorized database access attempts. The remediation process must include thorough testing of patched systems to ensure that security fixes do not introduce compatibility issues with existing functionality, while also maintaining up-to-date security practices as outlined in industry standards such as those defined by the OWASP project and NIST guidelines for web application security.