WARNING - Fleixcontent contains serious security issue

We have recently had the same warning as mentioned previously on this forum regarding the included phpthumb which is part of the flexicontent installation.

Our hosting provider, has referred us to the National Vulnerability Database which points out that the version of phpthumb being used by Flexicontent has a severe vulnerabilty (as our website was hacked through that).

Therefore, it is critical that this is no longer used with flexicontent until a fix has been provided.

I advise people to not download flexicontent until this has been resolved.

See this advisory:-
web.nvd.nist.gov/view/vuln/detai ... -2010-1598

hello thaks for your return but ... it's a phptumbs probleme it si to hard to say

cden wrote: I advise people to not download flexicontent until this has been resolved.

but we try to change phptumb version
regards

sure, i understand this is a phpthumb problem - apparantly this issue is easy to solve by removing the fltr[] scripts. However, as I do not code php it is a little bit out of my realm.

However also, as this is bundled with Flexicontent, i would still recommend that people do not install any joomla extension that contains vulnerabilities and that Flexicontent may need to be added to the VEL (joomla Vulnerable Extensions List) which I'm sure Brian Teeman would quickly be doing if he discovered this!

cden, thanks for posting.
but solution "do not install flexicontent" becose of this is too rushed.
for example, on my site this library worked only for creat thumbs when tags navigation used - i am didnt use built-in image field.
so... i just remoove this library from hosting and my site still works

it is better to find solution rather than throw away the component... anybody got solution for this ?

cden wrote: . . Flexicontent may need to be added to the VEL (Joomla Vulnerable Extensions List) which I'm sure Brian Teeman would quickly be doing if he discovered this!

FLEXIcontent 1.5.3c also includes chmod 777.
That would be sure to raise Brian's ire.
I manually change this chmod code before installing on a public website.


Has anyone seen a code fix for this?
There is nothing on the phpThumbs website.

Awhile back I did make my own phpThumbs 1.7.10 - updated for PHP 5.3.
Found that fix somewhere . . .


EDIT, found a security fix here:
modxcms.com/forums/index.php/topic,54874...16279.html#msg316279
The downside is it is different for Linux and Windows servers.

If anyone finds a better/different fix, please post.

.

Thanks for pointing this out.

I agree with cden unfortunately. As great as flexicontent is (although it seems to be getting left behind these days as it isnt really active in development anymore whereas K2, Zoo and the rest are constantly being developed) - I also would recommend that flexicontent is not used until this secrity issue is resolved, or dropped from flexicontent in use of an alternative.

If you think that its too hasty to drop it just for one severe security risk then i guess you dont deem the safety and security of your website, its users and your data as important, where most others do (and if its a clients site that you are building which gets hacked, even worse).

I for one am able to delete the phpthumbs file. Others with basic knowledge (most people) cant do that and are therefore vulnerable even if not using that feature as its easy to tell when flexicontent is in use on a website, which means its easy to know the location of phpthumb and then perform the exploit.

I also agree that this should be added to the VEL for the time being, thats what its for and there are other extensions on that list with issues not as severe as this.

don wrote: I agree with cden unfortunately. As great as flexicontent is (although it seems to be getting left behind these days as it isnt really active in development anymore whereas K2, Zoo and the rest are constantly being developed)

unfortunately, i agree to. why developers didnt post any news, plans? all we can do is core hacking to add the things we want. in the end flexi will transform to half-dead elephant that working somehow...
i think what serious extension must have the same marketing. Its like stock exchange - bad news and people drop shares.
may be its time to learn from k2/zoo developers how they make profit instead of making side job?

hello
k2 and zoo aren't the same buissness modele ... flexicontent is totaly free ... and it's difficult to do this without develloppeur and sharing ...
actualiy we didn't have too much contrubution ... and manu can do anything but he have his to work ...
i understand your position ... if you have any idea !
regards

micker, solution is simple:

a) update component every 1-2 months. without it nobody will advertise component to friends and customers. there are some working solution already in issue tracker and forum.
i think somebody from developers may include they in next version of component and release it. why not?

b) zoo have interesting model - why dont copy it?
develop interesting fields and spread they via paid access. why not?

c) made paid access to fast_professional_answers on forum.
instead of current "somebody may answer your one day... or not"


micker, may you ask Emmanuel watch this thread?
he made big work and it will be sad if it will end like "another neglected project".