CVE-2026-65879 in SP Page Builder Extension
Summary
by MITRE • 07/27/2026
Joomla Extension - joomshaper.com - Unauthenticated mail relay via a hardcoded, product-wide secret in SP Page Builder < 6.7.1 - A hardcoded secret allowed attackers to forge the mail from address of forms.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/27/2026
The vulnerability identified in Joomla extension SP Page Builder affects versions prior to 6.7.1 and represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of email communication within the platform. This issue stems from a hardcoded secret embedded within the product's codebase, which serves as a universal key for authentication across all instances of the software. The presence of such a static credential creates an inherent weakness that allows malicious actors to bypass normal authentication mechanisms and manipulate email relay functionality without requiring valid user credentials or access permissions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of a hardcoded cryptographic secret that is embedded within the SP Page Builder extension's source code. This secret serves as a validation token for form submissions and email relay operations, enabling attackers to forge the sender address of emails generated through the platform's contact forms. The flaw operates at the application layer and specifically targets the email handling functionality, where the hardcoded secret is used to authenticate requests before processing form submissions. Security researchers identified this weakness through code analysis and reverse engineering of the affected extension, revealing that the same secret value is used across all installations, making the vulnerability exploitable on a large scale.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple email spoofing, as it enables attackers to conduct various malicious activities including phishing campaigns, spam distribution, and social engineering attacks. An attacker who successfully exploits this flaw can send emails that appear to originate from legitimate sources within the target organization's domain, potentially leading to credential theft, financial fraud, or reputation damage. The vulnerability affects all users of SP Page Builder versions prior to 6.7.1 regardless of their access level or authentication status, making it particularly dangerous as it does not require any valid login credentials. This characteristic aligns with CWE-798, which specifically addresses the use of hardcoded passwords and keys in applications that should never be exposed in source code.
The exploitation of this vulnerability can be mapped to several tactics within the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly focusing on initial access through credential compromise and privilege escalation via application exploitation. Attackers may leverage this flaw as part of a broader attack chain where they first identify vulnerable installations, then exploit the hardcoded secret to send malicious emails that can trick recipients into providing sensitive information or clicking on harmful links. The vulnerability also fits within the category of "Persistence" tactics since compromised email functionality can be used to maintain access through continued fraudulent communications that appear legitimate to end users. Organizations using affected versions of SP Page Builder face potential regulatory and compliance implications, particularly in industries where email integrity is critical for business operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action including updating to SP Page Builder version 6.7.1 or later, which removes the hardcoded secret and implements proper authentication mechanisms for email relay operations. System administrators should also conduct comprehensive security audits of their Joomla installations to identify other potentially vulnerable extensions that may contain similar hardcoded credentials. The remediation process involves not only patching the specific vulnerability but also implementing proper secrets management practices within the development lifecycle to prevent future occurrences of such flaws. Organizations should consider conducting penetration testing and vulnerability assessments to ensure that no other hardcoded secrets exist within their web applications, as this represents a fundamental security architecture issue that requires both immediate correction and long-term policy changes in software development practices. Additionally, monitoring email logs for suspicious activity and implementing email authentication mechanisms such as SPF, DKIM, and DMARC can help detect and prevent abuse of compromised email functionality.