CVE-2008-2450 in TYPO3
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the Statistics (aka ke_stats) extension 0.1.2 and earlier for TYPO3 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2018
The CVE-2008-2450 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the ke_stats extension for TYPO3 content management systems. This vulnerability affects versions 0.1.2 and earlier, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on TYPO3 for their web presence. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the extension's statistics module, which fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to inject malicious scripts or HTML code through unspecified vectors, potentially compromising user sessions and enabling unauthorized access to sensitive information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The flaw occurs when the ke_stats extension processes user input without proper sanitization, creating an environment where attacker-controlled data can be executed as part of the web page's content. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK framework's T1059.001 technique, which encompasses command and scripting interpreters, as the injected scripts can execute within the victim's browser context. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple input points within the extension could be exploited, making the attack surface broader than initially apparent.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-2450 extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling attackers to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. Organizations utilizing TYPO3 with the affected ke_stats extension face risks of data breaches, service disruption, and potential compromise of their entire web infrastructure. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or insider knowledge to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous in public-facing web applications. Additionally, the widespread use of TYPO3 in enterprise environments increases the potential for cascading effects if multiple sites within an organization are affected.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-2450 should prioritize immediate patching of the ke_stats extension to version 0.1.3 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout their web applications, following OWASP's secure coding practices. Network administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to detect and prevent XSS attacks. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar flaws in other extensions or custom code. The remediation process should include thorough testing of the patched extension to ensure that security fixes do not introduce regressions in functionality. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to prepare for potential exploitation of similar vulnerabilities, as the attack vectors may be adapted by threat actors to target other systems within their network infrastructure.