CVE-2008-5799 in Wir Ber Uns Extension
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Wir ber uns (fsmi_people) extension 0.0.24 and earlier for TYPO3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/29/2017
The CVE-2008-5799 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the Wir ber uns (fsmi_people) TYPO3 extension version 0.0.24 and earlier. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of CWE-79 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the failure to properly sanitize user inputs before incorporating them into web page content. The issue affects the TYPO3 content management system ecosystem, where the fsmi_people extension is designed to manage personnel information and display it on websites. The vulnerability exists in the extension's handling of user-supplied data that is later rendered in web pages without adequate input validation or output encoding mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this XSS vulnerability occurs through unspecified vectors within the extension's codebase, suggesting that multiple entry points may be susceptible to malicious input injection. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting malicious scripts or HTML content that gets executed in the context of other users' browsers when they view pages containing the vulnerable extension's output. This type of vulnerability typically arises when the application fails to properly encode or escape special characters in user-provided data before rendering it in HTML contexts. The impact extends beyond simple script execution to potentially enable session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 for Establishing Persistence and T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, as attackers can use the XSS to execute malicious JavaScript code in victims' browsers.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-5799 is significant for organizations using affected TYPO3 installations, as it creates an attack surface that can be exploited by remote unauthenticated attackers. When exploited successfully, this vulnerability allows threat actors to inject malicious code that can compromise user sessions, steal sensitive information, or manipulate the content displayed to website visitors. The risk is particularly elevated in environments where the extension is widely used or where users may have privileged access to the TYPO3 backend. Organizations may experience reputational damage, data breaches, and potential regulatory compliance issues if user data is compromised through such an attack vector. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the extension's input sanitization process, where the developers failed to implement proper security controls to prevent malicious input from being executed as part of legitimate web page content.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-5799 should prioritize immediate remediation through the upgrade of the fsmi_people extension to version 0.0.25 or later, which contains the necessary security patches. System administrators should also implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout their TYPO3 installations, ensuring that all user-supplied content is properly sanitized before being rendered in web pages. The implementation of Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can provide an additional layer of defense against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other TYPO3 extensions or custom modules. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and following secure coding practices that adhere to OWASP Top Ten security guidelines, particularly those addressing input validation and output encoding.