CVE-2008-4656 in Frontend Users View
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the Frontend Users View (feusersview) 0.1.6 and earlier extension for TYPO3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/26/2017
The CVE-2008-4656 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Frontend Users View extension for TYPO3, specifically affecting versions 0.1.6 and earlier. This vulnerability resides in the extension's handling of user input within the frontend user management functionality, creating a pathway for remote attackers to manipulate database queries through maliciously crafted inputs. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and improper parameter sanitization within the extension's database interaction code, allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL commands that execute with the privileges of the web application's database user.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic SQL injection vector where user-supplied parameters are directly concatenated into SQL query strings without adequate sanitization or parameterization. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious input that alters the intended query structure, potentially enabling them to extract sensitive data, modify database records, or even execute administrative commands on the underlying database system. The vulnerability affects the extension's frontend user view functionality, which typically handles user authentication and profile management operations that interact with the TYPO3 database. This presents a significant risk as the extension likely operates with database credentials that have sufficient privileges to perform destructive operations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for TYPO3 installations using the affected extension, as it allows remote code execution capabilities without requiring authentication. The impact extends beyond simple data theft to include complete database compromise, potential system escalation, and unauthorized access to user credentials stored within the database. Organizations running TYPO3 systems with vulnerable extensions face potential exposure to data breaches, service disruption, and compliance violations. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means attackers can target affected systems from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access or prior authentication credentials. This makes it particularly dangerous for web applications that handle sensitive user information or business-critical data.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-4656 should prioritize immediate patching of the Frontend Users View extension to version 0.1.7 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. System administrators should implement comprehensive input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application code to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other components. Network-level protections including web application firewalls and database activity monitoring can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of all TYPO3 extensions to identify and remediate similar issues, while implementing proper database access controls to limit the privileges of web application accounts. Organizations should also establish robust patch management processes to ensure timely updates of all third-party components and maintain detailed inventory of installed extensions to quickly identify vulnerable systems. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which classifies SQL injection flaws, and represents a common attack pattern documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1190 technique for exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications.