CVE-2008-6691 in Pd Calendar Today
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in Diocese of Portsmouth Calendar Today (pd_calendar_today) extension 0.0.3 for TYPO3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/12/2017
The CVE-2008-6691 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw discovered in the pd_calendar_today TYPO3 extension version 0.0.3, specifically affecting the Diocese of Portsmouth Calendar Today module. This vulnerability exposes the TYPO3 content management system to remote code execution risks through improper input validation mechanisms within the calendar extension's database interaction components. The flaw allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands into the database query processing pipeline, potentially compromising the entire web application infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user-supplied input parameters within the extension's database query construction logic. Attackers can exploit this weakness by manipulating various input vectors such as calendar event identifiers, date parameters, or other extension-specific variables that are directly incorporated into SQL statements without proper escaping or parameterization. The vulnerability manifests when the extension processes user requests containing malicious SQL payloads, which are then executed against the underlying database system. This type of flaw falls under the CWE-89 category of SQL Injection, specifically representing a classic command injection vulnerability where user input flows directly into database queries without adequate validation or sanitization.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-6691 extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation can lead to complete database compromise, unauthorized data modification, privilege escalation, and potential lateral movement within the network infrastructure. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, and system configuration details stored within the TYPO3 database. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that TYPO3 systems often serve as content management platforms for critical organizational data, making the potential compromise of calendar extensions a serious security risk for organizations relying on these systems. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for Application Layer Protocol: DNS and T1046 for Network Service Scanning, as attackers typically enumerate and exploit such vulnerabilities to establish persistent access to target systems.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of the pd_calendar_today extension, applying proper input validation and parameterized query implementations, and conducting comprehensive security assessments of all TYPO3 extensions. The recommended remediation strategy involves deploying web application firewalls with SQL injection detection capabilities, implementing least privilege database access controls, and establishing regular security scanning procedures for third-party extensions. Additionally, system administrators should monitor database logs for suspicious query patterns and implement proper access controls to prevent unauthorized database modifications. This vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of maintaining up-to-date third-party components and implementing robust input validation practices across all web application layers, particularly in content management systems that handle sensitive organizational data through calendar and event management functionalities.