CVE-2025-49467 is a critical SQL injection vulnerability affecting the JEvents component for Joomla, developed by GWE Systems Ltd. This vulnerability exists in versions prior to 3.6.88 and 3.6.82.1, specifically from 1.0.0 up to 3.6.87. The flaw arises due to improper neutralization of special elements in SQL commands (CWE-89), allowing an attacker to inject malicious SQL code via publicly accessible actions that list events by date ranges. Since these actions are publicly accessible, no authentication or user interaction is required to exploit the vulnerability. The vulnerability has a CVSS 4.0 base score of 9.3, indicating a critical severity level. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), with low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), and no user interaction needed (UI:N). The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high (VC:H, VI:H, VA:H), meaning an attacker could potentially read, modify, or delete sensitive data within the Joomla site's database. The scope is unchanged (S:U), indicating the impact is confined to the vulnerable component and its data. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the nature of SQL injection vulnerabilities and the public accessibility of the vulnerable endpoints make this a high-risk issue. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized data disclosure, data manipulation, or complete compromise of the Joomla-based web application hosting the JEvents component. Given Joomla's widespread use in Europe for content management, especially in small to medium enterprises and public sector websites, this vulnerability poses a significant threat to organizations relying on JEvents for event management functionality.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-49467 can be severe. Exploitation could result in unauthorized access to sensitive data stored in the Joomla database, including user information, event details, and potentially administrative credentials if stored insecurely. This could lead to data breaches violating GDPR and other data protection regulations, resulting in legal and financial penalties. Integrity of data can be compromised, allowing attackers to alter event information or inject malicious content, damaging organizational reputation and trust. Availability may also be affected if attackers execute destructive SQL commands, causing denial of service or data loss. Public sector entities, educational institutions, and cultural organizations using Joomla with JEvents are particularly at risk due to the public-facing nature of event listings. Additionally, attackers could leverage this vulnerability as a foothold for further network intrusion or lateral movement within the affected organization's infrastructure. The critical CVSS score reflects the ease of exploitation and the broad impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, making timely remediation essential.

1. Immediate upgrade: Organizations should promptly update the JEvents component to version 3.6.88 or later, where this vulnerability is patched. 2. Input validation and sanitization: Until patching is possible, implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns targeting the event listing endpoints. 3. Restrict access: If feasible, restrict access to the vulnerable endpoints by IP whitelisting or requiring authentication to reduce exposure. 4. Database permissions: Ensure the database user account used by Joomla has the minimum necessary privileges, limiting the potential damage from SQL injection. 5. Monitoring and logging: Enable detailed logging of web requests and database queries to detect anomalous activities indicative of exploitation attempts. 6. Incident response readiness: Prepare to respond to potential data breaches, including backups verification and forensic analysis capabilities. 7. Code review: For organizations with custom Joomla extensions or modifications, review code for similar SQL injection risks and apply secure coding practices. These targeted measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on immediate containment, access control, and proactive detection tailored to the JEvents component's specific vulnerability.