CVE-2026-48907 IBM QRadar · QRadar

Detect Widget Factory Joomla Content Editor Improper Access Control (CVE-2026-48907) in IBM QRadar

Detects exploitation of CVE-2026-48907, an improper access control vulnerability (CWE-284) in the Joomla Content Editor (JCE) plugin by Widget Factory. This vulnerability is actively exploited in the wild (CISA KEV) and allows attackers to bypass access controls, potentially enabling unauthorized file uploads, remote code execution, or administrative actions within Joomla CMS installations.

MITRE ATT&CK

Tactic
Initial Access Persistence Privilege Escalation

QRadar Detection Query

IBM QRadar (QRadar)
sql 
SELECT
  sourceip,
  COUNT(*) AS request_count,
  ARRAY_AGG(DISTINCT "URL") AS target_urls,
  ARRAY_AGG(DISTINCT "HTTP Response Code") AS response_codes,
  MIN(starttime) AS first_seen,
  MAX(starttime) AS last_seen
FROM events
WHERE
  LOGSOURCETYPENAME(devicetype) IN ('Apache HTTP Server', 'Microsoft IIS', 'Nginx')
  AND (
    ("URL" ILIKE '%index.php%' AND "URL" ILIKE '%option=com_jce%')
    OR "URL" ILIKE '%/components/com_jce%'
    OR "URL" ILIKE '%/plugins/editors/jce%'
  )
  AND (
    "URL" ILIKE '%task=plugin%'
    OR "URL" ILIKE '%task=upload%'
    OR "URL" ILIKE '%task=save%'
  )
  AND "HTTP Method" IN ('POST', 'PUT')
  AND "HTTP Response Code" IN (200, 201, 302)
  AND LOGSOURCETIME(starttime) > NOW() - 1 HOURS
GROUP BY sourceip
HAVING COUNT(*) > 3
ORDER BY request_count DESC
critical severity medium confidence

QRadar AQL query detecting clustered POST/PUT requests to Joomla Content Editor plugin paths associated with CVE-2026-48907, grouped by source IP to identify both scanning activity and targeted exploitation attempts.

Data Sources

Apache HTTP ServerMicrosoft IISNginxWeb Application Firewall

Required Tables

events

False Positives & Tuning

  • Legitimate Joomla site administrators performing content operations through the JCE editor
  • Automated CMS publishing workflows using JCE component APIs
  • Authorized security scanning tools testing Joomla plugin vulnerabilities

Other platforms for CVE-2026-48907

Microsoft Sentinel (KQL) Splunk (SPL) Elastic Security (Elastic) Sumo Logic CSE (Sumo) Google Chronicle (YARA-L) CrowdStrike LogScale (LogScale) All platforms (combined) →

Testing Methodology

Validate this detection against 3 adversary techniques from Atomic Red Team. Each test below lists the behaviour to exercise and the telemetry you should expect to see. Executable commands and cleanup steps are available with Pro.

  1. Test 1Unauthenticated JCE Plugin Task Enumeration

    Expected signal: HTTP 200 response to unauthenticated POST request targeting com_jce plugin task endpoint; web server access log entry with POST method, 200 status, and option=com_jce in query string

  2. Test 2JCE File Upload via Access Control Bypass

    Expected signal: Multipart POST request to com_jce imgmanager upload endpoint; filesystem write event in Joomla images directory; PHP process creating new file in web-accessible path

  3. Test 3JCE Administrator Action Impersonation via Access Control Bypass

    Expected signal: POST request to JCE task endpoint returning 200 with directory listing or JCE interface content rather than 403/401 response; web server access log confirming successful response to unauthenticated request

Last updated: 2026-06-19 Research depth: standard
References (5)

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Response PlaybookInvestigation GuideHunting QueriesAtomic Red Team TestsTuning Guidance
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Tactic Hubs

TA0001Initial AccessTA0003PersistenceTA0004Privilege Escalation

Related Techniques

T1190Exploit Public-Facing ApplicationT1505.003Web ShellT1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Same Tactic: Initial Access

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