CVE-2018-6610 in jLike
Summary
by MITRE
Information Leakage exists in the jLike 1.0 component for Joomla! via a task=getUserByCommentId request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/16/2025
The vulnerability CVE-2018-6610 represents an information disclosure flaw within the jLike 1.0 component for Joomla! platforms. This issue stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the component's comment handling functionality. The vulnerability specifically manifests when processing requests with the task parameter set to getUserByCommentId, which allows unauthorized access to user-related information through improper authorization checks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a lack of proper authentication and authorization verification within the jLike component's backend processing logic. When a malicious actor submits a request with the getUserByCommentId task parameter, the system fails to validate whether the requesting user has legitimate access rights to view the specified comment's associated user information. This weakness creates a direct pathway for information leakage where sensitive user data can be extracted without proper authorization. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-200 category of Information Exposure, specifically related to insufficient access control mechanisms and improper input validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it can enable attackers to gather intelligence about registered users within the Joomla installations. Attackers can leverage this flaw to map user populations, identify active participants in comment systems, and potentially correlate this information with other data sources to build comprehensive profiles of platform users.
Security practitioners should recognize this vulnerability as part of the broader ATT&CK tactic of Credential Access and Discovery, where adversaries seek to gather information about system users and their access rights. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing proper access control checks for all user-facing API endpoints, particularly those that handle sensitive data operations. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including component updates, input validation enforcement, and access control restrictions. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous requests targeting comment-related functionality, as this vulnerability could be exploited as part of broader reconnaissance activities.
The remediation approach for CVE-2018-6610 requires immediate patching of the jLike component to version 1.1 or later, which includes proper authentication checks and input validation for the getUserByCommentId task parameter. System administrators should also implement web application firewalls with rules specifically designed to block suspicious requests containing the getUserByCommentId parameter. Regular security audits of third-party Joomla environments.
This information disclosure vulnerability represents a significant risk to user privacy and platform security, particularly in environments where comment systems are actively used by multiple users. The attack vector is relatively simple to exploit, making it a common target for automated scanning tools and opportunistic attackers. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple versions of the component underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and regularly reviewing third-party software dependencies. Security teams should prioritize this vulnerability in their risk assessment frameworks due to its potential for enabling more sophisticated attacks and its low exploitation complexity.