# CVE-2018-12712: Path traversal in n/a

> Attackers can exploit a PHP validation flaw in Joomla's autoload mechanism to perform Local File Inclusion, potentially leading to code execution or data disclosure.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 26 Jun 2018
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-5vwc-3f9c-mm3h

## What is CVE-2018-12712?

CVE-2018-12712 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Joomla Joomla\!, published on 26 Jun 2018. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

An issue was discovered in Joomla! 2.5.0 through 3.8.8 before 3.8.9. The autoload code checks classnames to be valid, using the "class_exists" function in PHP. In PHP 5.3, this function validates invalid names as valid, which can result in a Local File Inclusion.

Weakness: CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-12712?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Joomla Joomla\!.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-12712?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-12712 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2018-12712 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-12712 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## 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-2018-12712 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-12712 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Joomla Joomla\!, published on 26 Jun 2018. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-12712 in the wild and no public exploit code.

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-2018-12712/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-12712/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-12712
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-12712
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-12712

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-12712/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.