CVE-2009-0257 in TYPO3
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in TYPO3 4.0.0 through 4.0.9, 4.1.0 through 4.1.7, and 4.2.0 through 4.2.3 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) name and (2) content of indexed files to the (a) Indexed Search Engine (indexed_search) system extension; (b) unspecified test scripts in the ADOdb system extension; and (c) unspecified vectors in the Workspace module.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-0257 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness affecting TYPO3 content management systems across multiple versions within the 4.0.x, 4.1.x, and 4.2.x release series. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the TYPO3 framework's core components, specifically targeting the Indexed Search Engine system extension, ADOdb system extension, and Workspace module. The vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of affected systems, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity.
The technical flaw manifests through three distinct attack vectors that exploit the lack of proper sanitization for user-supplied input. The first vector targets the Indexed Search Engine extension where attackers can inject malicious content through the name and content parameters of indexed files, allowing arbitrary web script or HTML execution. The second vector involves unspecified test scripts within the ADOdb system extension, which likely process user input without adequate filtering mechanisms. The third vector affects the Workspace module, where similar input handling issues permit malicious code injection. These vulnerabilities fall under CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-site Scripting flaws in software applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user information, and potentially escalate privileges within the affected TYPO3 installations. Users who interact with the indexed search functionality or utilize the affected system extensions become potential targets for these attacks. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that TYPO3 is widely used for enterprise and government websites where the compromise of user sessions could lead to significant data breaches and system compromises. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple minor releases indicates a fundamental flaw in the input validation mechanisms that was not adequately addressed during the development cycle.
Security practitioners should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to patched versions of TYPO3, implementing proper input sanitization measures, and deploying web application firewalls to filter malicious content. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of comprehensive input validation across all system components and highlights the risks associated with legacy system extensions. Organizations using affected TYPO3 versions should conduct thorough security assessments of their web applications to identify potential exploitation vectors and ensure proper patch management protocols are in place. The attack patterns associated with this vulnerability align with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers the use of malicious content to gain initial access to systems through web-based attacks.