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Joomla! CMS EUVDEUVD-2026-42065

| CVE-2026-48956 MEDIUM
Improper Access Control (CWE-284)
2026-07-07 Joomla GHSA-x853-rpgv-6qxj
6.4
CVSS 4.0 · Vendor: Joomla
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Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Access Joomla frontend with user session
  2. Delivery
    Send request to com_modules frontend endpoint
  3. Exploit
    Access control check bypassed
  4. Execution
    Receive module inventory response
  5. Persist
    Enumerate installed extensions for known CVEs
  6. Impact
    Target vulnerable extension for follow-on attack

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A01:2025 - Broken Access Control
ASVS 5.0
V8 - Authorization Access control enforcement
MITRE ATT&CK

1 technique across 1 tactic: Defense Evasion

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Exploitation Conditions

Exploitation requires network access to a Joomla! CMS installation's frontend and a user session at a privilege level below what should normally be authorized to view module listings - the precise minimum privilege tier (unauthenticated vs. registered user) is not fully determinable from the description alone and conflicts with the CVSS 4.0 PR:H rating. The CVSS 4.0 vector's PR:H would imply a high-privilege actor (e.g., Joomla Manager or Administrator group) is required, but this conflicts with the 'Authentication Bypass' tag and the framing of the description ('allows users'). No special configuration is required based on AC:L/AT:N - the flaw is present in default Joomla deployments using the com_modules component. Exploitation is limited to information disclosure of the module inventory; direct code execution or data modification are not indicated by available data. The vulnerability is constrained to installations reachable over the network on the frontend.

Impact

The provided CVSS 4.0 vector (AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:L/VI:N/VA:N/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H) presents a notable internal tension: PR:H indicates exploitation requires high privileges, yet the subsequent-system impacts are all rated High (SC:H/SI:H/SA:H), implying a high-privilege actor can leverage disclosed module information to cause significant damage to downstream or chained systems. The VC:L on the vulnerable system itself aligns with the description (low-sensitivity module list), but the SC:H/SI:H/SA:H rating warrants scrutiny - Joomla's security team may be accounting for the reconnaissance value of module enumeration enabling targeted follow-on attacks against specific installed extensions with known vulnerabilities. This is plausible but not independently confirmable from the description alone. No POC, no KEV listing, and no EPSS score are available. Real-world priority should be moderate: the core impact is information disclosure (module inventory), but in environments running vulnerable or sensitive modules, that disclosure could serve as a meaningful stepping stone. Defenders should weigh patch effort against the actual sensitivity of their module configuration.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An authenticated user (or an attacker who has obtained a low-privilege Joomla frontend account) sends a crafted HTTP GET request to the com_modules frontend endpoint. Due to the missing or insufficient ACL check, the server returns the full module listing - including module type names, positions, ordering, and potentially publishing state - that should only be accessible to backend administrators. The attacker uses this inventory to identify installed extensions with known CVEs and pivot to targeted exploitation. No public exploit code has been identified at time of analysis.

This Month Plan within 30 days. Why: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9).
No patch listed yet 0.2% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Jul 07, 2026

Incorrect access control in Joomla! CMS's com_modules component exposes the module listing interface to frontend users who should not have visibility into installed modules. The flaw stems from CWE-284 (Improper Access Control), where the frontend fails to enforce sufficient privilege checks before returning module enumeration data. No public exploit or CISA KEV listing has been identified at time of analysis, and the EPSS score is not provided in source data, but the CVSS 4.0 score of 6.4 reflects meaningful subsequent-system impact potential stemming from reconnaissance value of the disclosed module inventory.

RemediationAI

Apply the patch released by the Joomla! Project as detailed in the official security advisory at https://developer.joomla.org/security-centre/1064-20260710-core-incorrect-access-control-in-com-modules.html. The advisory should specify the fixed version; no exact fix version number is independently confirmed from the available input data. As a compensating control pending patching, administrators can restrict frontend access to the com_modules component by modifying Joomla's ACL settings to explicitly deny module-related views to unintended user groups - this should be done through the backend under Users > Access Levels, with the trade-off that overly broad restrictions could break legitimate module rendering. Additionally, Web Application Firewall rules can be configured to block or alert on requests targeting the com_modules frontend endpoint from unauthenticated or low-privilege sessions. Monitor Joomla update channels via the Joomla Security Strike Team RSS feed for patch availability confirmation.

Affected VersionsENISA

Joomla! CMS 6.0.0-6.1.1
Joomla! CMS 4.0.0-5.4.6

Affected Packages

euvd joomla_cms no fix

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 1 package in euvd

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

Joomla! CMS is a PHP-based content management system. The affected component is com_modules, the core extension that manages and renders Joomla modules (sidebar widgets, banners, navigation blocks, custom HTML, etc.). The CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) root cause indicates the frontend controller or view layer omits or incorrectly evaluates the ACL (Access Control List) check that should restrict module listing to privileged users only. Joomla's ACL system is layered - backend vs. frontend access is governed by group permissions and component-level authorization checks. A missing or bypassed isAuthorised() call in the com_modules frontend dispatcher would expose module metadata to callers who lack the required privilege level. The CPE string (cpe:2.3:a:joomla!_project:joomla!_cms:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*) uses wildcards, meaning the specific affected version range is not defined in CPE data and must be determined from the Joomla Security Centre advisory.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

Vendor (Joomla) PRIMARY 6.4 MEDIUM
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:L/VI:N/VA:N/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H
vuln.today AI 4.3 MEDIUM

Network-accessible frontend endpoint, low complexity; PR:L assumed as 'users' implies authenticated but low-privilege access; impact limited to module list disclosure only.

3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
4.0 AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:L/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Primary rating from Vendor (Joomla).

CVSS VectorVendor: Joomla

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Attack Requirements
None
Privileges Required
High
User Interaction
None
Vulnerable system: Confidentiality
Low
Vulnerable system: Integrity
None
Vulnerable system: Availability
None
Subsequent system: Confidentiality
High
Subsequent system: Integrity
High
Subsequent system: Availability
High

DescriptionCVE.org

An improper access check allows users to display a list of modules in the frontend.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.2%
Top 84% exploitable
Prevalence
High
Joomla powers millions of public websites globally
Data Quality
5 sources
Confidence: Medium

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity MEDIUM
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.2%
Patch available No
Active threat No
Deciding rule
MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Scheduled
Exploitation
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable
No
Human Impact· derived
High
Technical Impact
Partial

Priority Score

32
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +32
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

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