CVE-2008-2344 in Air Filemanager
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the air_filemanager 0.6.0 and earlier extension for TYPO3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2017
The CVE-2008-2344 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the air_filemanager extension version 0.6.0 and earlier for the TYPO3 content management system. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security issues. The air_filemanager extension, designed to provide file management capabilities within TYPO3, contains a flaw that permits remote attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability exists in the extension's handling of user input data, specifically within unspecified vectors that process file-related operations or user interactions. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited by attackers who do not require any special privileges or authentication to compromise the application and its users.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the air_filemanager extension fails to properly sanitize or validate user-supplied input before rendering it within web pages. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that, when processed by the vulnerable extension, execute in the context of other users' browsers. This allows for various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of web pages, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can be leveraged to perform more sophisticated attacks such as CSRF (Cross-Site Request Forgery) attacks or to establish persistent backdoors within the compromised environment. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that the flaw may exist across multiple input points within the extension's codebase, making it particularly difficult to fully assess and patch.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-2344 is severe for organizations using affected TYPO3 installations, as it provides attackers with a direct path to compromise user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive data. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including file uploads, parameter manipulation, or direct input into form fields managed by the air_filemanager extension. Once exploited, attackers can steal cookies, modify content, or redirect users to phishing sites. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious file downloads and T1547.001 for persistence mechanisms. Organizations running vulnerable versions face significant risk of data breaches, reputation damage, and potential regulatory violations. The attack surface is particularly broad as TYPO3 installations often contain sensitive administrative interfaces and user data that can be compromised through this XSS vector.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-2344 require immediate action to address the underlying vulnerability. The primary solution involves upgrading the air_filemanager extension to a patched version that properly sanitizes all user input before processing. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms within their TYPO3 installations. Web Application Firewalls (WAF) can provide additional protection by filtering malicious payloads, though this should not replace proper code-level fixes. Security headers such as Content Security Policy (CSP) can help reduce the impact of successful XSS attacks by limiting script execution capabilities. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other TYPO3 extensions or custom code. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of keeping all CMS extensions updated and following secure coding practices that prevent XSS through proper input validation and output encoding techniques. Organizations should also implement monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures for rapid remediation of such vulnerabilities.