CVE-2026-75114 in Zoo Extension
Summary
by MITRE • 08/19/2026
Joomla Extension - yootheme.com - Open redirect in CommentController::twitterAuthenticate() in Zoo < 4.1.64 - The referer request parameter is passed straight to setRedirect() with no validation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/19/2026
The vulnerability identified as an open redirection flaw within the Joomla extension developed by YOOtheme, specifically affecting versions of the Zoo component prior to release 4.1.64, stems from a critical lack of input validation in the authentication workflow. The core technical defect resides within the CommentController class, particularly in the twitterAuthenticate method. This function is responsible for handling OAuth-based social login procedures via Twitter. During this process, the application accepts a referer request parameter which indicates the intended destination page after successful authentication. Instead of validating or sanitizing this input against an allowlist of trusted domains, the framework passes the raw value directly to Joomla's setRedirect method. This architectural oversight allows an attacker to supply arbitrary URLs as part of the redirect logic, bypassing standard security controls that typically restrict redirections to internal application paths only.
From a technical perspective, open redirects are classified under CWE-601 in the Common Weakness Enumeration database, which defines them as flaws where an application uses user-supplied input to construct a URL for redirection without proper validation. In this specific instance, the vulnerability is exacerbated by its placement within an authentication flow. Attackers can craft malicious links that appear legitimate because they originate from or are associated with yootheme.com domains during the initial phase of the login process. Once the user interacts with these links and completes the Twitter OAuth handshake, the application blindly redirects them to the attacker-controlled destination. This mechanism effectively bypasses browser security features such as SameSite cookies in certain contexts and exploits the trust users place in known domain names during sensitive operations like account linking or password resets.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is primarily centered around social engineering attacks rather than direct system compromise. While an open redirect itself does not typically allow for remote code execution, it serves as a powerful vector for phishing campaigns. An attacker can host a fake login page that mimics the legitimate Joomla interface and use the vulnerable Zoo component to seamlessly transition users from the trusted yootheme.com domain to the malicious site after authentication steps are completed. This significantly increases the success rate of credential harvesting attacks because victims perceive the final destination as trustworthy due to the preceding interaction with a known entity. Additionally, this flaw can be leveraged in drive-by download scenarios or to redirect users to sites containing cross-site scripting payloads that exploit browser vulnerabilities, thereby expanding the attack surface beyond simple phishing.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve both immediate patching and long-term architectural improvements. The most effective remediation is to upgrade the Zoo component to version 4.1.64 or later, where the developers have implemented proper validation logic to ensure that redirect targets are restricted to predefined safe domains. For organizations unable to immediately update due to compatibility constraints, a temporary workaround involves implementing server-side filtering rules within the web application firewall to detect and block requests containing suspicious query parameters in authentication endpoints. Furthermore, future development should adhere to secure coding practices by validating all user-controlled input used for navigation or redirection against an allowlist of approved hosts. This approach aligns with MITRE ATT&CK technique T1566.002, which describes spearphishing links as a method where attackers use customized URLs to evade detection and deceive users into visiting malicious destinations. By enforcing strict validation on redirect parameters, developers can neutralize this vector and protect user integrity during social authentication processes.