Joomla! Security Misconfiguration Scanner

Joomla! is a popular content management system (CMS) used for publishing web content. It is utilized globally by small businesses, governments, nonprofits, and large organizations to build dynamic websites and applications. The platform allows users to create and manage web content with ease through a user-friendly interface and powerful extensions. Joomla! offers multilingual support, extensive customization options, and a robust community for support and expansion. It is frequently updated and trusted for its versatility and powerful feature set. Joomla! is used not only for websites but also for intranets and vertical markets.

Security misconfiguration in Joomla! can provide attackers with unnecessary information by exposing full filesystem paths. This vulnerability often arises when error messages reveal unnecessary details about the system's structure. When these paths are disclosed, it could give insights into the underlying infrastructure, helping potential attackers in crafting subsequent attacks. The misconfiguration typically occurs when security checks like 'jexec or die' are missing, leading to exposure during handling of errors. Proper configuration, timely updates, and review of error handling mechanisms can reduce the risks associated with this vulnerability. In environments where sensitive data is stored, such misconfigurations can be especially critical.

Joomla! full path disclosure vulnerability focuses on detecting exposed paths through error messages. The scanner sends requests to various Joomla! library files like inputfilter.php, fileupload.php, and phpmailer.php. It looks for fatal error stack traces in the response body, which might include filesystem paths. The template detects text patterns that typically appear in error messages, such as 'fatal error,' 'warning,' or 'notice' that also include paths. When a match is found, it is flagged as a potential vulnerability. This vulnerability highlights inadequacies in how error conditions are managed and reported in Joomla!. Properly configured systems should not reveal this information.

If exploited, Joomla! full path disclosure can provide attackers with information on the server's directory structure. This knowledge could inform and enable further targeted attacks like direct file manipulations, privilege escalation, or sensitive data exposure. It may also inadvertently expose other vulnerabilities in the platform due to configuring errors. Attackers could exploit these details to develop more sophisticated exploitation methods. Keeping software versions updated and error handling correctly configured minimizes this risk. The exposure increases the threat landscape, leading to potential security breaches.

REFERENCES

• https://developer.joomla.org/security-centre/884-20220801-core-multiple-full-path-disclosures-because-of-missing-jexec-or-die-check.html