Balbooa Forms extension for Joomla: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory
CVE-2026-102424 is a high-severity improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory vulnerability in Balbooa Forms extension for Joomla from Balbooa.com, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected Balbooa Forms extension for Joomla versions: 1.0.0-2.4.3.3. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.37% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Forms to 2.4.3.4 or a later version.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balbooa.com | Balbooa Forms extension for Joomla | 1.0.0-2.4.3.3 | Not stated |
| Balbooa | Forms | before 2.4.3.4 | 2.4.3.4 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- NoneNothing can be modified.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 8.9 | High | CNA (joomla.org) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.5 | High | NVD |
Official description
Joomla Extension - balbooa.com - Unauthenticated path traversal exfiltrates local files through auto-reply attachments in Balbooa Forms < 2.4.3.4 - Balbooa Forms accepts upload-field state as Guest-controlled JSON during public form submission. For every object whose `id` merely looks numeric, the component trusts the supplied `filename`, concatenates it below the configured upload directory, and adds the result to an array of local attachment paths. It does not load the referenced attachment row, verify ownership/session/form/field, require that the ID exists, canonicalize the path, or enforce containment. If the form's normal “auto reply” and “attach uploaded files” options are enabled, the component sends those local paths as email attachments to the address submitted in an email field. A Guest can therefore submit a nonexistent numeric ID plus a traversal filename such as `../../../../configuration.php` and receive any file readable by the Joomla process.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory
The product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- For any security checks that are performed on the client side, ensure that these checks are duplicated on the server side, in order to avoid CWE-602. Attackers can bypass the client-side checks by modifying values after the checks have been performed, or by changing the client to remove the client-side checks entirely. Then, these modified values would be submitted to the server.
- Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid.
- Use an application firewall that can detect attacks against this weakness. It can be beneficial in cases in which the code cannot be fixed (because it is controlled by a third party), as an emergency prevention measure while more comprehensive software assurance measures are applied, or to provide defense in depth.
More Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory vulnerabilities (CWE-22)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other references
- balbooa.com/Product
Other vulnerabilities in Balbooa Forms extension for Joomla
- 10.0 Critical severity
- 9.4 Critical severity
- 10.0 Critical severity
- 7.7 High severity
Recent Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory vulnerabilities
- 7.8 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.6 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
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