CVE-2008-3044 in News Calendar Extension
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the News Calendar (newscalendar) extension 1.0.7 and earlier for TYPO3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/24/2017
The CVE-2008-3044 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw within the News Calendar extension version 1.0.7 and earlier for the TYPO3 content management system. This vulnerability resides in the extension's handling of user input parameters that are directly incorporated into sql query constructions without adequate sanitization or parameterization. The flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate the application's database interactions by injecting malicious sql code through unspecified input vectors, potentially enabling complete database compromise.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses sql injection weaknesses where untrusted data is incorporated into sql commands without proper validation or escaping mechanisms. The vulnerability exists in the extension's codebase where user-supplied parameters are concatenated directly into sql statements rather than being properly parameterized or escaped. This design flaw creates an environment where attackers can manipulate the sql execution flow by injecting malicious payloads that alter the intended database operations.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations utilizing TYPO3 with the affected News Calendar extension. Remote attackers could execute arbitrary sql commands including data extraction, modification, or deletion of database records. The attack surface extends to any functionality that processes user input through the extension's sql queries, potentially allowing privilege escalation, data exfiltration, or complete system compromise. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require local access or authentication to leverage the flaw.
The attack pattern associated with this vulnerability follows typical sql injection methodologies as documented in the mitre ATT&CK framework under technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation. Attackers would typically craft malicious input parameters that, when processed by the vulnerable extension, result in unintended sql command execution. The exploitation process involves identifying input points within the extension's functionality and injecting sql payloads designed to bypass authentication, extract sensitive data, or modify database content. Organizations should note that this vulnerability affects legacy systems and represents a common weakness in older web application development practices that did not adequately implement input validation and parameterized queries.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of the News Calendar extension to versions that address the sql injection vulnerability. System administrators must implement proper input validation and parameterization techniques throughout their applications, following secure coding practices that prevent user input from being directly incorporated into sql commands. Additionally, network segmentation and database access controls should be implemented to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other extensions or custom code components within the TYPO3 environment.