Vulnerabilities > CVE-2014-7981 - SQL Injection vulnerability in Joomla Joomla!

047910
CVSS 7.5 - HIGH
Attack vector
NETWORK
Attack complexity
LOW
Privileges required
NONE
Confidentiality impact
PARTIAL
Integrity impact
PARTIAL
Availability impact
PARTIAL
network
low complexity
joomla
CWE-89
nessus

Summary

SQL injection vulnerability in Joomla! CMS 3.1.x and 3.2.x before 3.2.3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors.

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)

  • Command Line Execution through SQL Injection
    An attacker uses standard SQL injection methods to inject data into the command line for execution. This could be done directly through misuse of directives such as MSSQL_xp_cmdshell or indirectly through injection of data into the database that would be interpreted as shell commands. Sometime later, an unscrupulous backend application (or could be part of the functionality of the same application) fetches the injected data stored in the database and uses this data as command line arguments without performing proper validation. The malicious data escapes that data plane by spawning new commands to be executed on the host.
  • Object Relational Mapping Injection
    An attacker leverages a weakness present in the database access layer code generated with an Object Relational Mapping (ORM) tool or a weakness in the way that a developer used a persistence framework to inject his or her own SQL commands to be executed against the underlying database. The attack here is similar to plain SQL injection, except that the application does not use JDBC to directly talk to the database, but instead it uses a data access layer generated by an ORM tool or framework (e.g. Hibernate). While most of the time code generated by an ORM tool contains safe access methods that are immune to SQL injection, sometimes either due to some weakness in the generated code or due to the fact that the developer failed to use the generated access methods properly, SQL injection is still possible.
  • SQL Injection through SOAP Parameter Tampering
    An attacker modifies the parameters of the SOAP message that is sent from the service consumer to the service provider to initiate a SQL injection attack. On the service provider side, the SOAP message is parsed and parameters are not properly validated before being used to access a database in a way that does not use parameter binding, thus enabling the attacker to control the structure of the executed SQL query. This pattern describes a SQL injection attack with the delivery mechanism being a SOAP message.
  • Expanding Control over the Operating System from the Database
    An attacker is able to leverage access gained to the database to read / write data to the file system, compromise the operating system, create a tunnel for accessing the host machine, and use this access to potentially attack other machines on the same network as the database machine. Traditionally SQL injections attacks are viewed as a way to gain unauthorized read access to the data stored in the database, modify the data in the database, delete the data, etc. However, almost every data base management system (DBMS) system includes facilities that if compromised allow an attacker complete access to the file system, operating system, and full access to the host running the database. The attacker can then use this privileged access to launch subsequent attacks. These facilities include dropping into a command shell, creating user defined functions that can call system level libraries present on the host machine, stored procedures, etc.
  • SQL Injection
    This attack exploits target software that constructs SQL statements based on user input. An attacker crafts input strings so that when the target software constructs SQL statements based on the input, the resulting SQL statement performs actions other than those the application intended. SQL Injection results from failure of the application to appropriately validate input. When specially crafted user-controlled input consisting of SQL syntax is used without proper validation as part of SQL queries, it is possible to glean information from the database in ways not envisaged during application design. Depending upon the database and the design of the application, it may also be possible to leverage injection to have the database execute system-related commands of the attackers' choice. SQL Injection enables an attacker to talk directly to the database, thus bypassing the application completely. Successful injection can cause information disclosure as well as ability to add or modify data in the database. In order to successfully inject SQL and retrieve information from a database, an attacker:

Nessus

NASL familyCGI abuses
NASL idJOOMLA_323.NASL
descriptionAccording to its self-reported version number, the Joomla! installation running on the remote web server is 3.x prior to 3.2.3. It is, therefore, affected by multiple vulnerabilities : - A SQL injection vulnerability exists within weblinks-categories due to improper sanitization of user-supplied input to the category
last seen2020-06-01
modified2020-06-02
plugin id73025
published2014-03-14
reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2014-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/73025
titleJoomla! 3.x < 3.2.3 Multiple Vulnerabilities
code
#
# (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
#

include("compat.inc");

if (description)
{
  script_id(73025);
  script_version("1.22");
  script_cvs_date("Date: 2019/01/02 11:18:37");

  script_cve_id(
    "CVE-2014-7981",
    "CVE-2014-7982",
    "CVE-2014-7983",
    "CVE-2014-7984"
  );
  script_bugtraq_id(
    77808,
    80037,
    80051,
    80065
  );
  script_xref(name:"EDB-ID", value:"31459");

  script_name(english:"Joomla! 3.x < 3.2.3 Multiple Vulnerabilities");
  script_summary(english:"Checks the version of Joomla!.");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
"The remote web server contains a PHP application that is affected by
multiple vulnerabilities.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
"According to its self-reported version number, the Joomla!
installation running on the remote web server is 3.x prior to 3.2.3.
It is, therefore, affected by multiple vulnerabilities :

  - A SQL injection vulnerability exists within
    weblinks-categories due to improper sanitization of
    user-supplied input to the category 'ID' parameter
    before using it in SQL queries. An unauthenticated,
    remote attacker can exploit this to inject or manipulate
    SQL queries against the back-end database, resulting in
    the manipulation or disclosure of arbitrary data.
    (CVE-2014-7981)

  - An unspecified cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability
    exists due to improper validation of input before
    returning it to users. An unauthenticated, remote
    attacker can exploit this, via a specially crafted
    request, to execute arbitrary script code in a user's
    browser session. (CVE-2014-7982)

  - A cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability exists within
    the index.php/single-contact script due to improper
    validation of input to the 'jform[contact_email]' POST
    parameter before returning it to users. An
    unauthenticated, remote attacker can exploit this, via a
    specially crafted request, to execute arbitrary script
    code in a user's browser session. (CVE-2014-7983)

  - A security bypass vulnerability exists that allows a
    remote attacker to bypass intended restrictions and log
    into the system using GMail credentials. (CVE-2014-7984)

  - A SQL injection vulnerability exists in the
    ModTagssimilarHelper::getList() function within file
    modules/mod_tags_similar/helper.php due to improper
    sanitization of user-supplied input before using it in
    SQL queries. An unauthenticated, remote attacker can
    exploit this to inject or manipulate SQL queries against
    the back-end database, resulting in the manipulation or
    disclosure of arbitrary data.

Note that Nessus has not tested for these issues but has instead
relied only on the application's self-reported version number.");
  # https://www.joomla.org/announcements/release-news/5538-joomla-3-2-3-released.html
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"http://www.nessus.org/u?559a3e03");
  # https://developer.joomla.org/security/578-20140301-core-sql-injection.html
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"http://www.nessus.org/u?356cb20e");
  # https://developer.joomla.org/security/579-20140302-core-xss-vulnerability.html
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"http://www.nessus.org/u?e5e7e44a");
  # https://developer.joomla.org/security/580-20140303-core-xss-vulnerability.html
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"http://www.nessus.org/u?47f311a4");
  # https://developer.joomla.org/security/581-20140304-core-unauthorised-logins.html
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"http://www.nessus.org/u?b9bf48e7");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
"Upgrade to Joomla! version 3.2.3 or later.");
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:F/RL:U/RC:ND");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H");
  script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:F/RL:U/RC:X");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"Exploits are available");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"true");
  script_cwe_id(20, 74, 79, 442, 629, 711, 712, 722, 725, 750, 751, 800, 801, 809, 811, 864, 900, 928, 931, 990);

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2014/02/06");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2014/03/06");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2014/03/14");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"remote");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/a:joomla:joomla\!");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"potential_vulnerability", value:"true");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_family(english:"CGI abuses");

  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2014-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");

  script_dependencies("joomla_detect.nasl");
  script_require_keys("installed_sw/Joomla!", "www/PHP", "Settings/ParanoidReport");
  script_require_ports("Services/www", 80);

  exit(0);
}

include("audit.inc");
include("global_settings.inc");
include("misc_func.inc");
include("http.inc");
include("install_func.inc");

app = "Joomla!";
get_install_count(app_name:app, exit_if_zero:TRUE);

port = get_http_port(default:80, php:TRUE);

install = get_single_install(
  app_name : app,
  port     : port,
  exit_if_unknown_ver : TRUE
);

if (report_paranoia < 2) audit(AUDIT_PARANOID);

version = install['version'];
install_loc =  build_url(port:port, qs:install['path']);

fix = "3.2.3";

# Branch Check
if (!(version =~ "^3\.")) exit(0,'The version of Joomla installed at '+install_loc+' is not 3.x.');

if (version == "3.2")
  audit(AUDIT_VER_NOT_GRANULAR, app, version);

# Versions 3.x < 3.2.3 are vulnerable (There are alpha builds of some versions)
if (
  version =~ "^3\.[01]([^0-9]|$)" ||
  version =~ "^3\.2\.[0-2]([^0-9]|$)"
)
{
  order = make_list("URL", "Installed version", "Fixed version");
  report = make_array(
    order[0], install_loc,
    order[1], version,
    order[2], fix
  );
  report = report_items_str(report_items:report, ordered_fields:order);

  security_report_v4(
    port     : port,
    extra    : report,
    severity : SECURITY_HOLE,
    xss      : TRUE,
    sqli     : TRUE
  );
  exit(0);
}
else audit(AUDIT_WEB_APP_NOT_AFFECTED, app, install_loc, version);