CVE-2012-1562Network attack vector

Account takeover via predictable password-reset tokens

Published Jan 15, 2020 · Updated Aug 6, 2024

Insufficient randomness in Joomla! CMS 1.6.x, 1.7.x, and 2.5.0 through 2.5.2 allows remote attackers to change user passwords. The core password-reset token generator produces insufficiently random values, making valid reset tokens predictable. No authentication or user interaction is required; a predicted token permits resetting a targeted account password and taking control of that account.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.89%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Insufficient randomness in Joomla! CMS 1.6.x, 1.7.x, and 2.5.0 through 2.5.2 allows remote attackers to change user passwords. The core password-reset token generator produces insufficiently random values, making valid reset tokens predictable. No authentication or user interaction is required; a predicted token permits resetting a targeted account password and taking control of that account.

The record

CVE
CVE-2012-1562
Published
Jan 15, 2020
Updated
Aug 6, 2024
Vendor
Joomla
Product
Joomla! CMS
Classifications
CWE-330, T1098
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 15, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 6, 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=2.5.0
  2. Affected versionversion=2.5.1
  3. Affected versionversion=2.5.2
  4. Affected versionversion=and all 1.7.x and 1.6.x versions

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Joomla · Joomla! CMSversion=2.5.0; version=2.5.1; version=2.5.2; version=and all 1.7.x and 1.6.x versions

Published CVSS scores

7.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
5.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N

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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-330Use of Insufficiently Random Values
T1098Account Manipulation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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