# CVE-2014-7228: Code injection in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code by bypassing encryption in Akeeba Restore plugins via crafted archive parameters.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 3 Nov 2014
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-99g7-532h-x95c

## What is CVE-2014-7228?

CVE-2014-7228 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Joomla Joomla\!, published on 3 Nov 2014. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Akeeba Restore (restore.php), as used in Joomla! 2.5.4 through 2.5.25, 3.x through 3.2.5, and 3.3.0 through 3.3.4; Akeeba Backup for Joomla! Professional 3.0.0 through 4.0.2; Backup Professional for WordPress 1.0.b1 through 1.1.3; Solo 1.0.b1 through 1.1.2; Admin Tools Core and Professional 2.0.0 through 2.4.4; and CMS Update 1.0.a1 through 1.0.1, when performing a backup or update for an archive, does not delete parameters from $_GET and $_POST when it is cleansing $_REQUEST, but later accesses $_GET and $_POST using the getQueryParam function, which allows remote attackers to bypass encryption and execute arbitrary code via a command message that extracts a crafted archive.

Weakness: CWE-310

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2014-7228?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Joomla Joomla\!.

## How do I fix CVE-2014-7228?

No fix has been published for CVE-2014-7228 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2014-7228 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2014-7228 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Joomla Akeeba Kickstart Unserialize Remote Code Execution (metasploit)
- Joomla! Component Akeeba Kickstart - Unserialize Remote Code Execution (Metasploit) (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Joomla Joomla\!

- [CVE-2016-10033](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-10033/): PHPMailer Command Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2023-23752](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-23752/): Joomla! Improper Access Control (medium 5.3, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-48902](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-48902/): Joomla! Core - [20260518] - Transport encryption downgrade for password and username reset links (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2025-25226](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-25226/): [20250401] - Joomla Framework - SQL injection vulnerability in quoteNameStr method of Database package (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2022-23795](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-23795/): [20220303] - Core - User row are not bound to a authentication mechanism (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2014-7228 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2014-7228 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Joomla Joomla\!, published on 3 Nov 2014. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2014-7228 exists.

Affected product: Joomla Joomla\!. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-7228/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-7228/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2014-7228
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-7228
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2014-7228

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-7228/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.