Pulseextensions - CraftedSignal Threat Feed

Joomla! Component Flip Wall SQL Injection (CVE-2017-20265)

hello@craftedsignal.io — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 16:36:11 +0000

CVE-2017-20265 details an SQL injection vulnerability impacting Joomla! Component Flip Wall version 8.0. Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this flaw by injecting malicious SQL payloads into the wallid parameter of specific GET requests to index.php?option=com_flipwall&task=click. Successful exploitation allows attackers to execute arbitrary SQL queries against the backend database, leading to the extraction of sensitive information. This vulnerability, while disclosed in 2017 and recently added to NVD, remains a risk for any organizations still operating unpatched or outdated Joomla! instances with this specific component. Defenders should prioritize patching or removing the vulnerable component and implementing detection mechanisms for the described attack pattern.

Attack Chain

Reconnaissance & Vulnerability Identification: An unauthenticated attacker identifies a target Joomla! website running the Flip Wall 8.0 component. They confirm the presence of the CVE-2017-20265 vulnerability by sending crafted GET requests to index.php?option=com_flipwall&task=click and observing server responses to malformed wallid parameters.
Initial Payload Injection: The attacker crafts a malicious SQL injection payload, such as a blind SQLi or an error-based SQLi, and embeds it within the wallid parameter of a GET request to index.php?option=com_flipwall&task=click&wallid=[SQL_PAYLOAD].
Server-Side Processing: The vulnerable Joomla! component processes the GET request, and the application's backend code executes the attacker's embedded SQL payload against the underlying database.
Information Extraction: Through iterative requests and refined payloads, the attacker leverages the SQL injection to extract sensitive database content, such as database schema, table names, column names, user credentials, or other configuration data.
Data Exfiltration: The extracted database information is returned within the HTTP responses, allowing the attacker to progressively exfiltrate sensitive data from the Joomla! application's database.
Impact: The attacker successfully compromises sensitive database information, leading to data theft, potential unauthorized access to the Joomla! administration panel if credentials are stolen, or further compromise of the web server.

Impact

Successful exploitation of CVE-2017-20265 leads to the complete compromise of the Joomla! application's backend database. This includes the potential extraction of all stored information, such as user accounts (usernames, hashed passwords), personal identifiable information (PII) of registered users, sensitive configuration data, and proprietary content. Organizations utilizing the vulnerable Flip Wall component are at risk of significant data breaches, reputational damage, and regulatory non-compliance if personal data is exfiltrated. The unauthenticated nature of this vulnerability means any internet-facing instance is susceptible to attack without prior access.

Recommendation

Immediately update or remove the vulnerable Joomla! Component Flip Wall 8.0 to a patched version or a different, secure component to remediate CVE-2017-20265.
Deploy the provided Sigma rules to your SIEM for detection of exploitation attempts targeting CVE-2017-20265.
Enable comprehensive web server access logging (e.g., Apache, Nginx access logs) to capture full HTTP request details, including URI path and query parameters, to ensure the logsource for the provided Sigma rules is available.
Regularly review web server access logs for anomalous GET requests containing SQL injection payloads, as identified in the detection rules.

Joomla! Component Sponsor Wall 8.0 SQL Injection (CVE-2017-20264)

hello@craftedsignal.io — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 16:35:04 +0000

CVE-2017-20264 details an SQL injection vulnerability in Joomla! Component Sponsor Wall version 8.0, developed by Pulseextensions. This flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary SQL queries by manipulating the wallid parameter within specific GET requests. The vulnerability is triggered when malicious SQL code is injected into the wallid parameter when making requests to index.php with option=com_sponsorwall&task=click. Successful exploitation grants attackers the ability to extract sensitive database information, including user credentials, hashed passwords, and critical configuration data, posing a significant risk to the integrity and confidentiality of the affected Joomla! instance and its backend database. Although the CVE was published recently, the vulnerability itself dates back to 2017, indicating that unpatched systems remain at risk.

Attack Chain

Reconnaissance: An attacker identifies a target web server hosting a Joomla! instance running the vulnerable Component Sponsor Wall 8.0.
Initial Access: The attacker crafts a specially formed HTTP GET request targeting the index.php endpoint of the Joomla! application.
Parameter Manipulation: The GET request includes the option=com_sponsorwall&task=click&wallid= parameter, into which the attacker injects malicious SQL code designed to bypass input sanitization.
Arbitrary Query Execution: The vulnerable Joomla! component processes the wallid parameter without proper validation, leading to the execution of the injected SQL queries against the underlying database.
Information Disclosure: The attacker leverages the SQL injection to extract sensitive database information, which may include user credentials (usernames and hashed passwords), session tokens, and system configuration data.
Data Exfiltration & Credential Harvesting: The extracted sensitive data, particularly credentials, is exfiltrated by the attacker for further analysis or use.
Persistence and Lateral Movement: The attacker uses the stolen credentials to gain unauthorized access to the Joomla! administrator panel or other connected systems, potentially establishing persistence, defacing the website, or escalating privileges.

Impact

Successful exploitation of CVE-2017-20264 can lead to severe consequences for affected organizations. Attackers can gain full read access to the entire database, compromising sensitive information such as customer data, proprietary business details, and internal credentials. The extraction of administrator credentials can grant full control over the Joomla! website, enabling website defacement, content manipulation, arbitrary code execution (via plugin installation or theme modification), and serving malware to legitimate visitors. The exposure of configuration data can further aid in lateral movement within the network or lead to access to other connected services, resulting in significant data breaches, reputational damage, and compliance violations.

Recommendation

Immediately update or remove Joomla! Component Sponsor Wall version 8.0 to a patched version or a different component if an update is not available to mitigate CVE-2017-20264.
Deploy the provided Sigma rule "Detects CVE-2017-20264 Exploitation — Joomla! Sponsor Wall SQL Injection Attempt" to your SIEM for early detection of exploitation attempts.
Ensure web server access logs are enabled and retained, specifically logging full URI paths and query strings for the webserver logsource to enable effective detection.
Review web application firewall (WAF) configurations to ensure robust SQL injection protection rules are active and up-to-date.