CVE-2008-5995 in Freecap Captcha Extension
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the freeCap CAPTCHA (sr_freecap) extension before 1.0.4 for TYPO3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/30/2017
The CVE-2008-5995 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the freeCap CAPTCHA extension for TYPO3 content management system. This vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to 1.0.4 and exposes web applications to remote code injection attacks that can compromise user sessions and data integrity. The flaw resides in how the extension handles user input during CAPTCHA validation processes, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of legitimate user sessions. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can facilitate session hijacking, data theft, and unauthorized administrative access to affected TYPO3 installations. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where TYPO3 is commonly deployed for managing sensitive organizational content and user data.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the freeCap CAPTCHA extension's codebase. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious input that bypasses the CAPTCHA verification mechanism while simultaneously injecting malicious scripts into the application's response. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the CVE description suggest that multiple entry points within the extension could be exploited, potentially including form submissions, URL parameters, or AJAX requests that process CAPTCHA data. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-site Scripting flaws in web applications, where improper validation of user-supplied data leads to script execution in the victim's browser context. This weakness creates a persistent threat vector that remains active until the affected extension is properly updated or patched.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-5995 extends beyond immediate script injection capabilities to encompass broader security implications for affected organizations. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal user authentication cookies, redirect victims to malicious websites, or inject persistent XSS payloads that execute across multiple sessions. The attack surface is particularly concerning given TYPO3's widespread adoption in enterprise and governmental sectors where the compromise of a single vulnerable extension could lead to widespread data breaches. Organizations running affected versions face potential regulatory violations under data protection laws such as gdpr and pci dss, as the vulnerability creates opportunities for unauthorized data access and exfiltration. The long-term implications include compromised user trust, potential legal consequences, and the need for extensive security audits of affected systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-5995 require immediate action to update the freeCap CAPTCHA extension to version 1.0.4 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the XSS vulnerability. System administrators should implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms and output encoding practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities in other components of the TYPO3 installation. The implementation of content security policies can provide additional defense-in-depth measures by restricting script execution and preventing unauthorized code injection attempts. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially affected extensions or components within their TYPO3 environments, as this vulnerability may indicate broader security gaps in the application's architecture. Regular security monitoring and automated patch management processes should be established to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1566 - Phishing and T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter, highlighting the attack patterns that leverage such weaknesses to establish persistent access and execute malicious commands within compromised environments.