CVE-2017-20280: Joomla Myportfolio SQL Injection Vulnerability Analysis

Technical summary

CVE-2017-20280 is an SQL injection vulnerability in the pid parameter of the Joomla Myportfolio 3.0.2 component. The vulnerability exists in the task=project&view=grid endpoint accessible via GET requests to index.php. Insufficient input validation allows attackers to break out of the intended SQL context and execute arbitrary SQL statements. The vulnerability is classified as CWE-89 (SQL Injection) and carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 8.2 (HIGH) with a vector reflecting high confidentiality impact, low integrity impact, and no availability impact. The flaw is unauthenticated and network-accessible.

Business impact

Exploitation enables unauthorized extraction of sensitive data from Joomla installations running the vulnerable component. Depending on database content, attackers could access user credentials, personal information, financial records, or other confidential data. While the vulnerability does not directly enable data modification or denial of service, the confidentiality breach poses significant regulatory and reputational risk. Organizations subject to data protection regulations (GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS) face potential compliance violations if customer or employee data is exfiltrated.

Affected systems

Joomla installations with the Myportfolio component version 3.0.2 installed and enabled are directly vulnerable. The attack surface includes any publicly accessible Joomla site with this component active, since the vulnerable endpoint requires no authentication. Legacy and orphaned installations are of particular concern if the component is no longer maintained by its developer.

Exploitability

This vulnerability is straightforward to exploit. Attackers need only craft HTTP GET requests with malicious SQL payloads in the pid parameter and send them to the vulnerable endpoint. No authentication, special user privileges, or user interaction is required. Network access alone is sufficient. The lack of complexity and ubiquity of web request tools make this accessible to a broad range of threat actors, from opportunistic scanners to sophisticated adversaries.

Remediation

First, identify all Joomla installations running the Myportfolio component and verify the installed version. If version 3.0.2 or earlier is confirmed, immediately disable or remove the component if not critical to operations. Check the component's official repository or developer site for a patched version and apply it if available. If no patch is available, consider replacing the component with a maintained alternative that provides similar portfolio functionality. Implement web application firewall rules to detect and block SQL injection attempts targeting the pid parameter as a interim control.

Patch guidance

Verify against the official Myportfolio component documentation and vendor advisory for available patch versions. Organizations should prioritize testing any available updates in a staging environment before production deployment to ensure compatibility with their Joomla installation and any dependent extensions. If the component is no longer actively maintained, migration to an alternative portfolio solution is recommended.

Detection guidance

Monitor web server access logs for requests to index.php containing the task=project&view=grid endpoint with suspicious pid parameter values. Common SQL injection indicators include URL-encoded SQL keywords (e.g., %27, %20OR%20, UNION, SELECT) or encoded quotes and comment sequences in the pid value. Web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can be configured with rules to flag such requests. Database query logs may reveal unusual or malformed SQL statements if exploitation has occurred. Baseline normal portfolio access patterns to identify anomalous behavior.

Why prioritize this

This vulnerability merits immediate attention despite not being on the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list. The combination of remote network accessibility, zero authentication requirements, high confidentiality impact, ease of exploitation, and broad potential for data exfiltration makes it a credible target for attackers. Organizations should treat this as a priority for rapid asset discovery and remediation.

Risk score, explained

The CVSS 3.1 score of 8.2 reflects a HIGH severity rating driven by network accessibility (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privilege or user interaction requirements (PR:N, UI:N), and high confidentiality impact (C:H). The score reflects the realistic threat: any internet-exposed Joomla site with this component is vulnerable to immediate data theft. Limited integrity and no availability impact prevent the score from reaching CRITICAL, but the confidentiality breach alone justifies urgent action.

Frequently asked questions