CVE-2018-25351 Overview
CVE-2018-25351 is an error-based SQL injection vulnerability in the Joomla! component EkRishta version 2.10. The flaw exists in the username parameter of the login endpoint. Unauthenticated attackers can submit POST requests containing crafted SQL payloads to execute arbitrary database queries. Successful exploitation enables extraction of stored user credentials, session data, and underlying database schema information. The vulnerability maps to CWE-89, Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated attackers can extract sensitive database contents, including credentials, by injecting SQL through the login form's username parameter.
Affected Products
- Joomla! Component EkRishta 2.10
- Joomla! sites using the EK Rishta extension
- Distributed via joomlaextensions.co.in
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-05-23 - CVE-2018-25351 published to NVD
- 2026-05-26 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2018-25351
Vulnerability Analysis
The EkRishta 2.10 component fails to sanitize the username POST parameter before incorporating it into an SQL query string. An attacker submits a malicious payload to the login endpoint, and the database engine evaluates the injected SQL alongside the original authentication query. Because the application surfaces database errors in its response, attackers can use error-based extraction techniques to read arbitrary data row by row.
The attack requires no authentication, no user interaction, and only network access to the Joomla! site running the vulnerable extension. Public exploitation details are available via Exploit-DB entry 44877 and the VulnCheck advisory.
Root Cause
The component concatenates user-supplied input directly into an SQL statement. There is no prepared statement, parameterized query, or input filter applied to the username field. Joomla!'s native database abstraction APIs are not used to bind the parameter, which is the canonical defense against [CWE-89] in the Joomla! ecosystem.
Attack Vector
An attacker issues a POST request to the EkRishta login handler with an SQL injection payload placed in the username body parameter. Typical payloads use UNION SELECT clauses or conditional error triggers such as EXTRACTVALUE to coerce the MySQL backend into echoing query results inside an error message. The response leaks data from any table accessible to the database user, including the Joomla! #__users table.
No verified code example is published. Refer to the Exploit-DB #44877 record for the full proof-of-concept request format.
Detection Methods for CVE-2018-25351
Indicators of Compromise
- POST requests to EkRishta login endpoints containing SQL keywords such as UNION, SELECT, SLEEP, or EXTRACTVALUE inside the username field.
- Web server access logs showing unusually long username values or URL-encoded SQL metacharacters (%27, %20OR%20, %23).
- Database error responses returned to client IPs that subsequently issue many similar login POSTs.
Detection Strategies
- Inspect Joomla! and front-end web server logs for repeated failed logins from a single source paired with malformed username values.
- Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules that flag SQL syntax tokens inside authentication parameters.
- Correlate database error events with HTTP request patterns to identify error-based extraction attempts.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable verbose access logging on Joomla! installations using third-party components and retain logs for at least 90 days.
- Alert on outbound database errors that reach the HTTP response body, which indicates missing error suppression.
- Monitor the #__users table for read patterns inconsistent with normal application behavior.
How to Mitigate CVE-2018-25351
Immediate Actions Required
- Disable or uninstall the EkRishta 2.10 component on affected Joomla! sites until a fixed release is confirmed.
- Rotate all Joomla! administrator and user credentials, because credential disclosure cannot be ruled out.
- Restrict access to the EkRishta login endpoint with IP allowlists or HTTP authentication while remediation is in progress.
Patch Information
No vendor patch has been published in the references associated with CVE-2018-25351. Site operators should consult the EK Rishta extension page and the vendor at joomlaextensions.co.in for an updated release. If no fixed version is available, remove the component.
Workarounds
- Deploy a WAF rule that blocks SQL metacharacters and keywords inside the username POST parameter on the EkRishta login route.
- Run the Joomla! database user with the minimum privileges required, removing access to tables outside the component's scope.
- Suppress verbose MySQL error messages in production to break error-based extraction techniques.
- Replace EkRishta with an actively maintained Joomla! matrimonial or membership extension that uses parameterized queries.
# Example ModSecurity rule to block SQL tokens in the username parameter
SecRule ARGS:username "@rx (?i)(union(\s|/\*.*\*/)+select|extractvalue\s*\(|sleep\s*\(|'\s*or\s+1=1)" \
"id:1002518,phase:2,deny,status:403,log,msg:'CVE-2018-25351 EkRishta SQLi attempt'"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
