CVE-2011-4908Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Unauthenticated code execution via unrestricted file upload

Published Feb 12, 2020 · Updated Aug 7, 2024

Unrestricted file upload in Joomla TinyBrowser 1.5.12 allows remote attackers to write files through the exposed upload interface. The TinyMCE plugin exposes upload.php without a login check, while companion handlers accept an uploaded file and rename it with a PHP extension. Network access to the Joomla site is sufficient to place executable PHP in a web-served directory, resulting in code execution under the web server account.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability55.77%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Unrestricted file upload in Joomla TinyBrowser 1.5.12 allows remote attackers to write files through the exposed upload interface. The TinyMCE plugin exposes upload.php without a login check, while companion handlers accept an uploaded file and rename it with a PHP extension. Network access to the Joomla site is sufficient to place executable PHP in a web-served directory, resulting in code execution under the web server account.

The record

CVE
CVE-2011-4908
Published
Feb 12, 2020
Updated
Aug 7, 2024
Vendor
Joomla
Product
TinyBrowser
Classifications
CWE-434, T1190, T1505.003
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 12, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 7, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=1.5.12
  2. Affected versionversion=fixed in 1.5.13

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Joomla · TinyBrowserversion=1.5.12; version=fixed in 1.5.13

Published CVSS scores

9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
10.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-434Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application
T1505.003Server Software Component Web Shell

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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