Joomla! is a popular platform, but it isn't without its flaws. Take, for instance, CVE-2023-23752 - a critical security vulnerability in Joomla! 4.0.0 through 4.2.7. Joomla! has cautioned its users to take immediate action to fix this, releasing a patch to fix the vulnerability. Updating your Joomla! installation to the latest version as soon as possible will help. To avoid these kinds of Joomla malware impacting your site while maximizing overall website security, it's critical to understand them and what you can do to prevent them from damaging your website going forward.
Let's take a closer look at this vulnerability within Joomla! websites and what you can do to prevent vulnerability exploits from impacting your site's security.

This Joomla malware is caused by an improper access check within the Joomla! API. Rather than validate the requestor's credentials, the check provides API access for anyone - no authentication is needed. This leaves the system open to potential hackers.

So what can the hackers do from there? Any number of things, including:

If it's not clear by now that this is something to be taken seriously, it should be. Joomla! website operators should also take note of how much potential damage could come from a vulnerability exploit if this is left unchecked, with Joomla malware able to severely damage your operations.

If you are a victim of this vulnerability, there are ways in which you can confirm whether it exists on your Joomla! website.

Outputs from this URL (https://joomlawebsite.com/administrator/manifests/files/joomla.xml) can help you verify whether an attacked Joomla! website is susceptible to this specific vulnerability.

The output of an HTTP GET request to this URL (https://joomlawebsite.com/api/index.php/v1/config/application?public=true) will lead to a dump of the following installation details. Critical parameters dumped:

• "dbtype": "mysqli",
• "host": "localhost",
• "user": "joomla",
• "password": "S3iw1fratij9Fac8",
• "db": "joomla",
• "dbprefix": "l8fe0_"

This will lead to unfettered, unlimited access to the MSQL database server, using only the username, password, and MSQL host address.

If your Joomla! website installation has an MSQL server accessible from a publicly available internet address, a hacker holding this data has an opportunity to infiltrate your site. They can also freely inject malicious code into your Joomla! data.

Those are some serious aftershocks your site may experience due to an easy-to-miss vulnerability. So, how do you keep yourself secure from Joomla malware?

While the CVE-2023-23752 vulnerability seems like quite a powerful weapon in a hacker's arsenal, there are measures you can take to protect yourself against it impacting your site. Taking these actions is the best first step to take to ensure your site is safe from this Joomla malware.

The first thing to do is to always update Joomla! to its latest version. This will provide you with any necessary security patches as well as other relevant updates. If there are security features that help safeguard against the vulnerability, you'll want to check for updates regularly to certify you're using the most current form of Joomla!

The second action to take is to set up a DNS or Endpoint web application firewall to block malicious requests. This is also a preventative measure that acts as a fortification from hacking attempts. It won't necessarily remove the vulnerability, but it will stave off any attempts to breach your site and its data.

Quttera's ThreatSign! platform is a comprehensive security solution that can keep your site safe. With ThreatSign! you'll have access to everything you need to keep hackers out and keep your site operating smoothly. You won't have to worry about Joomla malware anymore!

ThreatSign! also gives your site the following tools to help keep it safe:

• A Web Application Firewall (WAF). ThreatSign! gives you a WAF that blocks incoming malicious requests that target Joomla! installation.
• Malware scanning. With its enhanced detection capabilities, ThreatSign! can find and then subsequently remove malware from your website. If any malicious code has infected your site, being able to hunt for and extract malware is a necessity.
• Behavior analysis. When someone accessing your site is acting abnormally or suspiciously, you'll want to be able to identify that quickly to stop any nefarious activity. ThreatSign! employs behavior-based analysis to pinpoint (and block) all suspicious or malicious activity.
• Regular scanning. Maintaining awareness of your site's cyber posture and overall cyber hygiene comes down to simple vigilance. With ThreatSign! and its continuous monitoring capabilities, you can run regular scans to keep your site clean and secure.
• Security information and event management (SIEM). ThreatSign! also integrates with SIEM systems, providing comprehensive security event monitoring and analysis to detect threats and respond to them quickly.
• Incident response. When a data breach does occur, you'll need to have a fast, effective response to mitigate the damage. ThreatSign! assists with incident response when this does occur. You can then recover and restore your website to its original status while minimizing disruption to your operations and site visitors.

Cybersecurity shouldn't be another headache—it should be easy. With Quttera's ThreatSign! platform, you'll be able to stay informed as well as keep your Joomla! website secure and functioning effectively. Learn more about how ThreatSign! can help protect your website from Joomla malware—sign up today!