CVE-2026-78070 in DP Calendar Extension
Summary
by MITRE • 08/28/2026
Joomla Extension - digital-peak.com - Authenticated, privileged blind SQL injection in DP Calendar 5.5.0 - 10.11.2 - Saving an article can trigger a blind SQL injection with content plugin, needs update permission for articles.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/28/2026
The vulnerability identified within the Digital Peak Development calendar extension for Joomla versions ranging from 5.5.0 to 10.11.2 represents a critical authenticated blind SQL injection flaw located in the article saving mechanism. This security defect is specifically triggered when an attacker interacts with content plugins associated with the calendar component, requiring only update permissions for articles rather than administrative privileges. The core of the issue lies in the insufficient sanitization and validation of user-supplied input before it is incorporated into database queries executed by the backend application logic. When a privileged user saves or updates an article that utilizes specific plugin features, maliciously crafted data can bypass existing filters and be interpreted as part of the SQL command structure rather than mere content. This allows for the extraction of information from the underlying database through blind techniques, where the attacker infers data based on the application's response time or boolean-based outcomes without directly seeing query results in the interface.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which categorizes improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL command, commonly known as SQL injection. The blind nature of the exploit means that traditional error messages are likely suppressed by Joomla's default configuration or custom error handling routines within the extension, forcing attackers to rely on time-based or boolean-based inference methods to extract sensitive data such as database credentials, user session tokens, or other confidential information stored in the Joomla database. Because the attack vector requires authenticated access with article update permissions, it is classified under CWE-269 for improper privilege management if an attacker can escalate privileges from a lower-level account that possesses these specific editing rights to exploit this deeper system flaw. The presence of content plugins introduces additional complexity as they often handle dynamic data rendering and processing, creating multiple potential entry points where input validation may be inconsistently applied across different components of the extension ecosystem.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for any organization running affected versions of DP Calendar on Joomla platforms. An attacker with valid credentials possessing article editing rights can potentially compromise the integrity and confidentiality of the entire web application environment. By exploiting blind SQL injection, an adversary could extract administrative passwords stored in plaintext or hashed formats within the database, leading to full account takeover. Furthermore, depending on the specific configuration of the underlying MySQL server, such as having FILE privileges enabled for the Joomla database user, this vulnerability could potentially be leveraged to read arbitrary files from the web server's filesystem or even write malicious scripts into accessible directories, resulting in remote code execution. This transforms a seemingly minor content management flaw into a critical pathway for complete system compromise, affecting not just the calendar functionality but the broader security posture of the Joomla installation.
Mitigation strategies must focus on immediate remediation and enhanced defensive coding practices. The primary recommendation is to upgrade the DP Calendar extension to the latest patched version released by Digital Peak Development, which addresses these input validation deficiencies. In instances where an update cannot be immediately applied due to compatibility constraints or operational requirements, administrators should implement strict access controls to limit article editing permissions to only those users who absolutely require them, thereby reducing the attack surface for authenticated attackers. Additionally, deploying a Web Application Firewall can provide a layer of defense by detecting and blocking common SQL injection patterns in HTTP requests before they reach the application logic. From a development standpoint, future implementations must enforce parameterized queries or prepared statements exclusively when interacting with databases to ensure that user input is always treated as data rather than executable code. Regular security audits and static analysis tools should be integrated into the software development lifecycle to identify similar vulnerabilities across all content plugins associated with Joomla extensions.
This incident underscores the importance of adhering to secure coding standards such as those outlined in OWASP guidelines for preventing SQL injection attacks. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of exploitation under T1059, Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically when leveraging database commands for data exfiltration or system control. Security teams should monitor logs for unusual query patterns indicative of blind SQL injection attempts, such as delayed responses correlated with specific input payloads. Continuous monitoring and proactive patch management are essential to maintaining the resilience of Joomla-based environments against evolving threats that target authenticated vulnerabilities in popular third-party extensions.