Joomla! contushdvideoshare Arbitrary File Download Scanner

Joomla! is an open-source content management system (CMS) widely used for creating and managing websites. It is utilized by individuals, businesses, and developers to build and maintain websites with robust functionality and ease of use. Joomla! offers a variety of extensions and plugins, such as the contushdvideoshare component, to enhance its capabilities. These components are added to introduce additional features like video sharing, enhancing user engagement and content delivery. Such components are essential for customizing the CMS to serve specific business needs and industry requirements. The contushdvideoshare component specifically allows website owners to integrate video sharing features within their Joomla!-based websites.

An Arbitrary File Download vulnerability has been identified in the Joomla! contushdvideoshare component. This vulnerability allows attackers to download arbitrary files from the server, potentially gaining access to sensitive information. The flaw arises from improper validation and filtering of file paths provided by users in requests. This can be exploited by crafting URL requests with specific file path manipulations, leading to unauthorized file access. An attacker could access critical configuration files, thereby compromising the security of the Joomla! site. This vulnerability highlights the importance of robust input validation, especially in CMS extensions and plugins.

Technical details of the vulnerability include the manipulation of the file path parameter utilized by the contushdvideoshare component's download functionality. By constructing a request to the vulnerable endpoint, attackers can traverse directories and download sensitive files. The vulnerable endpoint is located at '/components/com_contushdvideoshare/hdflvplayer/download.php', with the potential to exploit the 'f' parameter. This allows adopters to manipulate file paths and gain unauthorized access to server files such as 'configuration.php'. Proper input validation was not implemented, enabling harmful actions through crafted URLs.

If exploited, this vulnerability can have severe consequences for organizations using the Joomla! contushdvideoshare component. Unauthorized access to server files could lead to sensitive data breaches, including disclosure of configuration settings, user credentials, and other critical information. This can further lead to unauthorized site access, data manipulation, and undermine the trust and integrity of the web application. It elevates the risk of further attacks, including privilege escalation and unauthorized administrative operations.

REFERENCES

• http://www.joomla.org/