CVE-2018-5975 in Smart Shoutbox
Summary
by MITRE
SQL Injection exists in the Smart Shoutbox 3.0.0 component for Joomla! via the shoutauthor parameter to the archive URI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/29/2025
The vulnerability CVE-2018-5975 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the Smart Shoutbox 3.0.0 component for Joomla installations that have not applied the necessary security patches.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input through the shoutauthor parameter in the archive URI, typically following the pattern of ?view=archive&shoutauthor=malicious_input. The component fails to properly sanitize or escape this input before incorporating it into database queries, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary sql commands. This injection can potentially lead to complete database compromise, enabling attackers to extract sensitive information, modify or delete data, and even escalate privileges within the affected Joomla! installation. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input handling practices and violates fundamental security principles of parameterized queries and input validation. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a database injection technique under the T1071.004 sub-technique for application layer protocol, where attackers leverage application vulnerabilities to access backend databases.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-5975 extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete system compromise of affected Joomla platform, potentially enabling attackers to establish persistent access through database manipulation. Organizations running vulnerable versions of the Smart Shoutbox component face significant risk of data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and reputational damage. The attack requires minimal technical expertise to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be targeted by automated scanning tools and script kiddies. The vulnerability also poses risks to the broader web application ecosystem, as compromised Joomla! installations can serve as launching points for further attacks within network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-5975 require immediate action from affected organizations to prevent exploitation. The primary recommendation involves applying the vendor-supplied patch or upgrading to a patched version of the Smart Shoutbox component, which addresses the input validation deficiencies. Organizations should implement proper input sanitization measures, including parameterized queries and proper escaping of user-supplied data before database interaction. Network-level defenses such as web application firewalls can provide additional protection by filtering malicious sql injection patterns from incoming requests. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of the vulnerable component across their infrastructure and implement monitoring for suspicious database activity. The remediation process should include disabling or removing the vulnerable component if it is not essential to business operations. Additionally, organizations should enforce strict input validation policies and conduct regular security testing to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of their web applications. Regular security updates and patch management procedures should be implemented to maintain protection against known vulnerabilities.