CVE-2018-5980 in Solidres
Summary
by MITRE
SQL Injection exists in the Solidres 2.5.1 component for Joomla! via the direction parameter in a hub.search action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-5980 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Solidres 2.5.1 component for Joomla environments, becomes compromised when user input containing malicious SQL code is processed through the vulnerable direction parameter, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary database commands.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the Solidres component's handling of the direction parameter. When the hub.search action processes user-supplied data through the direction parameter, the application fails to properly escape or filter special SQL characters and commands. This lack of proper sanitization enables attackers to inject malicious SQL payloads that can bypass authentication mechanisms, extract confidential data, modify database contents, or even execute administrative commands on the affected system. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL commands without proper validation or escaping.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-5980 extends beyond simple data theft, as it can lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive reservation data, customer information, and potentially administrative credentials. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can manipulate booking records, alter pricing structures, or even delete critical database entries. The attack surface is particularly concerning for hospitality businesses relying on Joomla! platforms, as the compromise could result in financial loss, regulatory violations, and reputational damage. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would fall under T1071.005 Application Layer Protocol: DNS and potentially T1566 Credential Access through data exfiltration techniques.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the Solidres component to version 2.5.2 or later, which includes proper input validation and sanitization measures. Organizations should implement comprehensive input filtering mechanisms that escape special SQL characters and validate parameter types before processing. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection by monitoring and blocking suspicious SQL injection patterns. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components. System administrators must also ensure proper access controls and database privilege management to limit potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include monitoring database logs for suspicious activities and implementing proper error handling to prevent information leakage that could aid further exploitation attempts.