CVE-2018-5987 in Pinterest Clone Social Pinboard
Summary
by MITRE
SQL Injection exists in the Pinterest Clone Social Pinboard 2.0 component for Joomla! via the pin_id or user_id parameter in a task=getlikeinfo action, the ends parameter in a view=gift action, the category parameter in a view=home action, the uid parameter in a view=pindisplay action, the searchVal parameter in a view=search action, or the uid parameter in a view=likes action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-5987 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the Pinterest Clone Social Pinboard 2.0 Joomla! component. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization practices within the component's php scripts that handle various user interactions. The flaw manifests across multiple parameters including pin_id, user_id, ends, category, uid, and searchVal, all of which are processed without proper sanitization before being incorporated into sql queries. The vulnerability specifically affects the component's handling of user-supplied data in different view contexts such as getlikeinfo, gift, home, pindisplay, search, and likes actions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate sql query structures through malicious input in the affected parameters. When the component processes these parameters without proper validation, it directly incorporates user input into sql statements, creating opportunities for attackers to execute arbitrary sql commands against the underlying database. This vulnerability maps to CWE-89 which specifically addresses sql injection weaknesses in software applications. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it leverages the component's legitimate user interaction points, making it difficult to distinguish between malicious and legitimate requests. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input handling practices that violate fundamental security principles for database interaction.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to extract sensitive data from the database including user credentials, personal information, and application configuration details. Attackers could potentially modify or delete database records, escalate privileges within the application, or even gain remote code execution capabilities depending on the database configuration and permissions. The vulnerability affects the Joomla! content management system which typically hosts websites with user-generated content, making the potential damage significant for organizations relying on this platform. This weakness creates a persistent threat that could compromise the entire website and its associated user data, particularly in environments where the component is widely used.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-5987 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected Joomla! component to the latest secure version. Organizations should implement proper input validation and sanitization measures across all user-supplied parameters before database processing occurs. The implementation of prepared statements and parameterized queries should be enforced throughout the application codebase to prevent sql injection vulnerabilities. Network-based mitigations such as web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers, though they should not replace proper code-level fixes. Security monitoring and logging should be enhanced to detect suspicious parameter patterns that may indicate attempted exploitation. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application infrastructure. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to industry standards such as those outlined in the owasp top ten and mitre attack framework, which categorizes this as a data exposure vulnerability that could lead to further compromise through credential theft and privilege escalation techniques.