CVE-2008-5609 in Commerce extension
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the Commerce extension 0.9.6 and earlier for TYPO3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/04/2017
The CVE-2008-5609 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Commerce extension version 0.9.6 and earlier for the TYPO3 content management system. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-89 category, which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses in software applications. The Commerce extension serves as a fundamental e-commerce solution for TYPO3, handling database operations for product catalogs, user management, and transaction processing, making it a prime target for malicious actors seeking unauthorized database access.
The technical flaw manifests through insufficient input validation and sanitization within the Commerce extension's database query construction mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by manipulating input parameters that are directly incorporated into SQL statements without proper escaping or parameterization. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple entry points within the extension could be compromised, potentially including product search functions, user authentication modules, or administrative interfaces. This lack of specificity in the vulnerability description indicates a widespread issue within the extension's architecture rather than a single point of failure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database. Successful exploitation could result in complete database compromise, allowing attackers to extract sensitive information such as user credentials, customer data, product inventories, and financial records. The vulnerability also permits unauthorized modification or deletion of database content, potentially leading to data corruption, service disruption, and financial loss. Additionally, attackers could leverage this access to escalate privileges within the TYPO3 system, potentially gaining full administrative control over the affected website.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation and T1190 for exploitation of remote services. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that TYPO3 is widely deployed across various industries including government, healthcare, and financial services. Organizations utilizing the affected Commerce extension versions face significant risk exposure, especially those handling sensitive data or conducting online transactions. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and proper database security practices, as well as the necessity of regular security updates and patch management programs. Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including database query parameterization, input validation, and access control restrictions, while also considering network-level protections such as web application firewalls to prevent exploitation attempts.
The remediation strategy should prioritize immediate patching of the Commerce extension to version 0.9.7 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. System administrators should also conduct thorough security assessments of their TYPO3 installations to identify other potentially vulnerable extensions or components. Regular security monitoring and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to detect similar issues in other parts of the application stack. The incident underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and the potential consequences of delayed patch management in enterprise environments.