CVE-2008-6145 in WEC Discussion Forum
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in the WEC Discussion Forum (wec_discussion) extension 1.7.0 and earlier for TYPO3 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2017
The CVE-2008-6145 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in the WEC Discussion Forum extension for TYPO3 content management systems. This vulnerability affects versions 1.7.0 and earlier, exposing web applications that utilize this extension to significant remote code execution risks. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the forum extension's database interaction mechanisms, creating pathways for malicious actors to manipulate SQL queries through crafted user inputs.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws in software applications. These flaws occur when application code fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied data before incorporating it into SQL commands. In the context of the WEC Discussion Forum extension, the vulnerability manifests through unspecified vectors that likely involve form fields, URL parameters, or API endpoints where user input is directly concatenated into database queries without adequate sanitization measures. The attack surface encompasses any functionality within the forum that processes user-generated content or configuration parameters, potentially including topic creation, reply submission, user profile modifications, or administrative functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or modification. Remote attackers who successfully exploit these SQL injection flaws can execute arbitrary SQL commands on the underlying database, potentially gaining full administrative control over the forum's data and functionality. This could result in complete data compromise, unauthorized user account creation, forum content manipulation, or even database server takeover. The implications are particularly severe for organizations relying on TYPO3 for mission-critical web applications, as the vulnerability affects not just the forum itself but could potentially provide attackers with access to broader application data or even system-level information through database enumeration techniques.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1190 for exploitation of vulnerabilities and T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage. The attack vector typically involves crafting malicious input that bypasses normal validation checks and injects SQL syntax into database queries. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including patching to the latest version of the WEC Discussion Forum extension, implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries, and conducting comprehensive security assessments of all TYPO3 extensions in use. Additionally, network-level protections such as web application firewalls and database query monitoring can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of regular security updates and proper input sanitization practices in web application development.