CVE-2020-23971 in GMapFP
Summary
by MITRE
gmapfp.org Joomla Component GMapFP J3.30pro is affected by Insecure Permissions. An attacker can access the upload function without authenticating to the application and also can upload files due the issues of unrestricted file uploads which can be bypassed by changing the content-type and name file too double extensions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/02/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-23971 affects the GMapFP Joomla component version 3.30pro and represents a critical security flaw that undermines the application's authentication and authorization mechanisms. This component, designed for Joomla content management systems, implements insecure permissions that allow unauthorized users to bypass legitimate authentication processes and gain access to file upload functionalities without proper credentials. The vulnerability stems from inadequate access control measures that fail to properly validate user privileges before granting access to sensitive operations.
The technical implementation of this flaw manifests through multiple interconnected weaknesses that create a pathway for unauthorized file uploads. Attackers can exploit the component's upload function without authentication by manipulating the content-type headers and file naming conventions to bypass security restrictions. This vulnerability specifically enables what is known as unrestricted file upload, where the application fails to properly validate file types, content, or extensions before processing uploads. The attack vector is further amplified by the ability to use double extensions in filenames, allowing malicious files to appear legitimate while executing malicious code when accessed by the application or end users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, creating a significant risk landscape for affected Joomla installations. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can upload malicious files such as web shells, malware, or other harmful executables that can compromise the entire web application and potentially the underlying server infrastructure. The implications include potential data breaches, service disruption, and complete system compromise, as the uploaded files can be executed with the privileges of the web server process. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory) and CWE-434 (Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type) while also mapping to ATT&CK techniques including T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter).
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action from system administrators and security teams to address the root causes of the insecure permissions. The primary recommendation involves implementing proper authentication checks before allowing any file upload operations, ensuring that only authenticated and authorized users can access the upload functionality. Additionally, comprehensive file validation mechanisms must be deployed to verify file types, content signatures, and extensions against strict whitelists rather than relying on blacklists. Organizations should also implement proper input sanitization and content-type validation to prevent header manipulation attacks. The component should be updated to the latest version that addresses these security flaws, while network-level protections including web application firewalls and upload restrictions should be configured to provide additional layers of defense. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components and ensure that proper access control mechanisms are consistently enforced throughout the application stack.