CVE-2009-3632 in TYPO3
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the traditional frontend editing feature in the Frontend Editing subcomponent in TYPO3 4.0.13 and earlier, 4.1.x before 4.1.13, 4.2.x before 4.2.10, and 4.3.x before 4.3beta2 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified parameters.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/16/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-3632 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the frontend editing functionality of TYPO3 content management systems. This security weakness specifically affects versions prior to the mentioned patches across multiple TYPO3 release lines including 4.0.13, 4.1.13, 4.2.10, and 4.3beta2. The vulnerability resides within the Frontend Editing subcomponent which provides authenticated users with the ability to modify content directly through the frontend interface rather than requiring access to the backend administration panel. The flaw allows remote authenticated attackers to manipulate database queries through unspecified parameters that are not properly sanitized or validated before being incorporated into sql commands executed against the underlying database system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and parameter sanitization within the frontend editing feature's processing logic. When authenticated users interact with the frontend editing interface, the system accepts user-supplied parameters that are directly incorporated into sql queries without proper escaping or parameterization. This design flaw creates an environment where maliciously crafted input can alter the intended execution flow of sql statements, potentially allowing attackers to extract sensitive data, modify database records, or even execute administrative commands on the database server. The vulnerability specifically impacts the traditional frontend editing feature which operates with elevated privileges compared to regular frontend users, making it particularly dangerous as it leverages existing authenticated sessions to gain deeper system access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise, as it provides attackers with the capability to escalate privileges and potentially gain complete control over the database backend. Remote authenticated users who can access the frontend editing functionality can exploit this weakness to execute arbitrary sql commands, which may include data manipulation, information disclosure, or even database schema modification. The vulnerability affects organizations using TYPO3 systems in production environments where frontend editing is enabled, potentially exposing sensitive organizational data including user credentials, content management records, and business-critical information stored within the database. Given that this vulnerability exists in multiple version lines of TYPO3, organizations with various system configurations may be simultaneously affected, increasing the potential attack surface and complicating remediation efforts.
Organizations should immediately implement security patches corresponding to the affected version ranges to address this vulnerability. The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to the patched versions 4.0.14, 4.1.13, 4.2.10, and 4.3beta2 respectively, which contain proper input validation and parameter sanitization measures. Additionally, system administrators should review and restrict frontend editing permissions to only essential users who require this functionality, limiting the potential attack surface. Network-level controls such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures, though they should not replace proper code-level fixes. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 sql injection weakness classification and represents a significant risk under the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation and defense evasion techniques, particularly when combined with other exploitation methods that leverage authenticated access to achieve persistent system compromise.