CVE-2019-25754 Overview
CVE-2019-25754 is an SQL injection vulnerability [CWE-89] in the Joomla vRestaurant component version 1.9.4 developed by WDM Tech. The flaw resides in the keysearch parameter of the menu-listing-layout endpoint. Unauthenticated attackers can send crafted POST requests containing malicious SQL payloads to manipulate backend database queries. Successful exploitation allows attackers to enumerate database table names and extract sensitive information stored in the underlying database. The vulnerability is exploitable over the network without authentication or user interaction, making any Joomla installation running this extension a viable target.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated remote attackers can extract sensitive database contents from affected Joomla sites by sending malicious SQL payloads through the vulnerable keysearch parameter.
Affected Products
- Joomla Component vRestaurant 1.9.4 (WDM Tech)
- Joomla installations using the vulnerable vRestaurant extension
- Restaurant menu deployments relying on the menu-listing-layout endpoint
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-06-19 - CVE-2019-25754 published to NVD
- 2026-06-22 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2019-25754
Vulnerability Analysis
The vRestaurant 1.9.4 extension processes user-supplied input from the keysearch parameter without proper sanitization or parameterized queries. When a POST request reaches the menu-listing-layout endpoint, the component concatenates the keysearch value directly into an SQL query. This allows an attacker to break out of the intended query context and inject arbitrary SQL syntax.
The vulnerability is classified under [CWE-89] — Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command. The component does not enforce input filtering, type validation, or prepared statements. Successful exploitation grants read access to the underlying database, including credentials, customer data, and configuration tables.
Root Cause
The root cause is the concatenation of unsanitized HTTP request input into SQL statements. The keysearch parameter is intended as a search filter for menu items but is incorporated into queries without binding or escaping. This pattern is a long-standing anti-pattern in PHP-based Joomla extensions that bypass the Joomla Framework's database abstraction layer.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based and requires no authentication or user interaction. An attacker sends a POST request to the menu-listing-layout endpoint with a UNION-based or boolean-based SQL injection payload in the keysearch parameter. The response reflects database content, enabling extraction of table schemas and stored records. A working proof-of-concept is publicly available at Exploit-DB #46228, and additional technical details are documented in the VulnCheck Joomla Advisory.
Detection Methods for CVE-2019-25754
Indicators of Compromise
- POST requests to the menu-listing-layout endpoint containing SQL syntax such as UNION SELECT, SLEEP(, INFORMATION_SCHEMA, or single quotes in the keysearch parameter.
- Unexpected database errors logged by Joomla or the underlying MySQL/MariaDB instance referencing the vRestaurant component.
- Outbound data transfers or anomalous query response sizes from the Joomla web server following requests to the vRestaurant endpoint.
Detection Strategies
- Inspect web server access logs for POST requests targeting URLs containing menu-listing-layout with suspicious keysearch values.
- Deploy a web application firewall (WAF) rule that flags SQL keywords and metacharacters in the keysearch POST parameter.
- Correlate database error log entries with HTTP requests reaching the vRestaurant component to identify probing attempts.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable verbose query logging on the database server hosting Joomla data to capture anomalous queries originating from the web application.
- Monitor for repeated requests from a single source IP to the menu-listing-layout endpoint, which often indicates automated injection tooling.
- Track Joomla extension inventories to identify any deployment of vRestaurant 1.9.4 across managed sites.
How to Mitigate CVE-2019-25754
Immediate Actions Required
- Disable or uninstall the vRestaurant 1.9.4 extension from all Joomla installations until a vendor-supplied patch is verified.
- Block external access to the menu-listing-layout endpoint using web server rules or a WAF if the extension cannot be removed.
- Audit database accounts used by Joomla to ensure they operate with least-privilege permissions, limiting blast radius if injection succeeds.
Patch Information
No official vendor patch has been confirmed in the available references. Administrators should monitor the WDM Tech homepage and the Joomla vRestaurant Extension listing for updated releases addressing CVE-2019-25754. Until a fixed version is released, removal of the extension is the recommended remediation.
Workarounds
- Apply a WAF signature that rejects SQL metacharacters and keywords in the keysearch POST parameter sent to the vRestaurant endpoint.
- Restrict the vRestaurant administrative and listing endpoints to trusted IP ranges through web server access control lists.
- Rotate Joomla database credentials and review database tables for signs of unauthorized read or modification activity.
# Example Apache mod_security rule blocking SQLi payloads in keysearch
SecRule ARGS:keysearch "@rx (?i)(union(\s|/\*.*\*/)+select|information_schema|sleep\s*\(|benchmark\s*\(|--|;)" \
"id:1925754,phase:2,deny,status:403,log,msg:'CVE-2019-25754 vRestaurant SQLi attempt'"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
