CVE-2025-27445 in RSFirewall Component
Summary
by MITRE • 06/05/2025
A path traversal vulnerability in RSFirewall component 2.9.7 - 3.1.5 for Joomla was discovered. This vulnerability allows authenticated users to read arbitrary files outside the Joomla root directory. The flaw is caused by insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input in file path parameters, allowing attackers to exploit directory traversal sequences (e.g., ../) to access sensitive files
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/05/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-27445 represents a critical path traversal flaw within the RSFirewall component version 2.9.7 through 3.1.5 for the Joomla content management system. This security weakness resides in the component's handling of user-supplied input parameters that control file paths, creating an avenue for authenticated attackers to bypass normal access controls and retrieve files from locations outside the intended Joomla installation directory structure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the RSFirewall component's file handling routines. When authenticated users submit requests containing directory traversal sequences such as ../ or similar path manipulation patterns, the component fails to properly sanitize these inputs before processing file operations. This deficiency allows attackers to craft malicious requests that traverse up the directory tree and access files outside the Joomla root directory, potentially exposing sensitive system information including configuration files, database credentials, and other confidential data.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability significantly undermines the security posture of Joomla installations using the affected RSFirewall component versions. An authenticated attacker with access to any user account can leverage this flaw to read arbitrary files from the server, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only authentication, meaning that even low-privilege users can exploit it to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system files and potentially escalate their privileges further. The exposure of configuration files may reveal database connection details, administrative credentials, and other critical system information that could facilitate additional attacks.
Security practitioners should recognize this vulnerability as mapping to CWE-22 Path Traversal and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 File and Directory Discovery, where adversaries attempt to enumerate system files and directories. The affected RSFirewall component versions demonstrate a failure in implementing proper input validation and access control mechanisms, creating a persistent security risk for all Joomla installations that have not updated to patched versions. Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through component updates and implement additional monitoring for suspicious file access patterns. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input sanitization and the principle of least privilege in web application security, as the flaw allows unauthorized file access through legitimate authenticated user sessions. Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of the RSFirewall component, implementation of web application firewalls with path traversal detection capabilities, and comprehensive security auditing of all installed Joomla extensions to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components.