CVE-2008-3049 in Pdf Generator 2 Extension
Summary
by MITRE
The PDF Generator 2 (pdf_generator2) extension 0.5.0 and earlier for TYPO3 allows attackers to obtain sensitive information via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/25/2017
The CVE-2008-3049 vulnerability affects the PDF Generator 2 extension version 0.5.0 and earlier in the TYPO3 content management system, representing a sensitive information disclosure flaw that could potentially expose confidential data to unauthorized parties. This vulnerability resides within a widely used TYPO3 extension designed to generate pdf documents from web content, making it a critical concern for organizations relying on TYPO3 for their web presence and document management capabilities.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from unspecified vectors within the pdf_generator2 extension implementation, suggesting that attackers could exploit various pathways to access sensitive information that should remain protected. The lack of specific details regarding the exact exploitation method indicates that the flaw may involve improper access controls, insecure data handling, or inadequate input validation mechanisms within the extension's codebase. Such vulnerabilities typically arise when the extension fails to properly verify user permissions or sanitize data inputs before processing them into pdf documents.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations using TYPO3 with the affected extension, as it could lead to unauthorized access to confidential information contained within pdf documents generated by the system. The exposure of sensitive data might include user credentials, business documents, personal information, or other proprietary content that should remain protected. Given that TYPO3 is widely deployed in enterprise environments, educational institutions, and government organizations, the potential scope of impact extends across multiple sectors where information security is paramount.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with common CWE categories related to information disclosure and improper access control, potentially falling under CWE-200 for information exposure or CWE-284 for improper access control mechanisms. The attack surface for this vulnerability would typically involve an attacker with minimal privileges who could leverage the flaw to access data that should be restricted. Organizations should consider implementing the ATT&CK framework's techniques related to credential access and privilege escalation when analyzing potential exploitation paths for this vulnerability.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate upgrading to a patched version of the pdf_generator2 extension, as the vulnerability affects versions 0.5.0 and earlier. System administrators should also implement proper access controls and monitoring mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their TYPO3 installations to identify other potentially vulnerable extensions or components that might present similar security risks. Regular security updates and patch management processes should be enforced to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.