CVE-2020-10243 in Joomla
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Joomla! before 3.9.16. The lack of type casting of a variable in a SQL statement leads to a SQL injection vulnerability in the Featured Articles frontend menutype.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/16/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-10243 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Joomla! content management system affecting versions prior to 3.9.16. This security weakness resides in the Featured Articles frontend menutype component, which serves as a mechanism for displaying featured content items in navigation menus. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and type casting practices within the database query construction process, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to manipulate SQL statements through user-supplied parameters.
The technical flaw manifests when the system fails to properly sanitize or cast user-provided input before incorporating it into SQL queries executed against the database backend. Specifically, the vulnerability occurs in the Featured Articles frontend menutype functionality where a variable containing user-controllable data is directly concatenated into a SQL statement without appropriate type conversion or parameterization. This omission creates a classic SQL injection vector where attackers can inject malicious SQL code through carefully crafted input that bypasses normal input validation mechanisms. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses in software applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or modification. Attackers can leverage this SQL injection flaw to execute arbitrary database commands, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive information including user credentials, content management data, and system configuration details. The exploitation process typically involves crafting malicious input parameters that manipulate the SQL query structure to extract, modify, or delete database records. Given that Joomla! is widely used for content management and web applications, the potential attack surface is substantial, with successful exploitation potentially leading to complete system compromise and unauthorized administrative access.
Organizations utilizing affected Joomla developers, which addresses the specific type casting vulnerability in the Featured Articles frontend menutype. Additional defensive measures should include implementing proper input validation mechanisms, enforcing parameterized queries, and conducting comprehensive security assessments of all database interactions. Network-based intrusion detection systems should be configured to monitor for suspicious SQL injection patterns, while web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization and type casting practices in preventing SQL injection attacks, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation and T1190 for exploitation of remote services through SQL injection vulnerabilities.