# CVE-2017-17871: SQL injection in n/a

> Attackers can execute arbitrary SQL commands via the an or ques-srch parameters in the JEXTN Question And Answer extension for Joomla.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 24 Dec 2017
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-wq5h-39h5-m4q3

## What is CVE-2017-17871?

CVE-2017-17871 is a critical SQL injection vulnerability in n/a, published on 24 Dec 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The "JEXTN Question And Answer" extension 3.1.0 for Joomla! has SQL Injection via the an parameter in a view=tags action, or the ques-srch parameter.

Weakness: CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-17871?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Jextn Jextn Question and Answer.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-17871?

No fix has been published for CVE-2017-17871 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2017-17871 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2017-17871 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Joomla! Component JEXTN Question And Answer 3.1.0 - SQL Injection (exploitdb)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-17871 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-17871 is a critical SQL injection vulnerability in n/a, published on 24 Dec 2017. 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-2017-17871 exists.

Affected product: n/a. 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-2017-17871/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-17871/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-17871
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-17871
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-17871

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-17871/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.