A website on Joomla  was hаcked by a hаcker who not only injected a virus into the Joomla folder but also compromised all the other websites on the hosting. It seems that he managed to infiltrate the system. Is there any way to prevent his access and confine his actions solely to Joomla?



In this case, it is important to note that the site is hosted on a virtual server.

First, make sure to keep your Joomla installation and all other components up to date with the latest security patches. Regularly applying updates can help address known vulnerabilities that hackers may exploit.

Additionally, consider implementing strong access control measures. This includes using secure passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and closely managing user accounts with appropriate permissions. Limiting access rights can help prevent an attacker from gaining control over other websites on the hosting server.

You may also want to separate each website into its own hosting environment or use virtualization technologies, such as containers or virtual machines, to isolate each website's resources. This way, even if one website gets compromised, it will be harder for the attacker to propagate their actions to other websites or the underlying infrastructure.

Furthermore, consider implementing a robust network firewall and intrusion detection system (IDS) to monitor and block suspicious network traffic. Regularly scanning your websites and server for malware or vulnerabilities can also help in detecting and mitigating potential threats.

Lastly, having an incident response plan in place can help minimize the impact of a breach. This includes regularly backing up your website data and having a procedure in place to quickly restore from a known good backup in case of an attack.


Here are a few more suggestions for preventing unauthorized access and minimizing the impact of a hack on your Joomla website hosted on a virtual server:

1. Use a Web Application Firewall (WAF): Implementing a WAF can help filter out malicious traffic and protect against common web application vulnerabilities.

2. Enable Server Security Hardening: Configure your server to follow security best practices, such as disabling unnecessary services, using secure protocols (e.g., HTTPS), and implementing secure file permissions.

3. Regularly Monitor Logs and Audit Activity: Set up logging and monitoring systems to keep track of activities on your server and review logs for any suspicious behavior. This can help identify potential breaches or abnormal activity.

4. Conduct Security Audits and Penetration Testing: Regularly assess the security of your Joomla website and server by conducting security audits and penetration testing. This can help identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses that attackers may exploit.

5. Educate Users and Follow Best Practices: Train your users to follow good security practices, such as using strong passwords, being cautious with email attachments, and regularly updating their software and plugins. Also, ensure that you and your team stay informed about the latest security threats and best practices.

6. Consider Security Extensions and Plugins: Joomla has various security extensions and plugins available that can provide additional layers of protection against common attacks. Research and utilize reputable security solutions tailored for Joomla websites.

Remember that security is an ongoing process, and it's essential to stay vigilant, respond promptly to security incidents, and adapt your security measures as new threats arise.

There is currently no way to achieve this. In general, the recommended approach is to start each website from a different user and set up appropriate file permissions.
This ensures that users from other websites cannot access or modify files in directories belonging to other sites. By implementing this strategy, it will significantly complicate any malicious attempts.

Popular content management systems (CMS) like Wordpress, Joomla, and 1C-Bitrix frequently face attacks, with a focus on exploiting well-known vulnerabilities. For instance, in the case of Joomla, CVE-2018-17856 com_joomlaupdate could be exploited to execute unauthorized code. The default ACL configuration allows users with "administrator" level access to exploit com_joomlaupdate and perform code execution. This particular method may have been used to compromise the server.

To mitigate such risks, running Joomla within a container, such as Docker, can effectively limit the execution of any malicious programs, viruses, or commands to the confined container environment. Detailed instructions for launching and configuring Joomla in Docker are available on the official website Docker.com.

In order to prevent your website from being torn apart by attackers, it is essential to address vulnerabilities and leave hackers with no opportunities. Conducting regular vulnerability scans is crucial, covering common security risks like XSS, SQL injections, and access rights errors. At the very least, a basic scan should be performed to ensure some level of security. However, it is highly recommended to conduct a comprehensive site audit using online security auditors for a more thorough evaluation.

By proactively identifying and addressing vulnerabilities, you can significantly enhance the security of your website and minimize the chances of successful attacks.