CVE-2009-4390 in Car
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the Car (car) extension 0.1.1 for TYPO3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/25/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-4390 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Car extension version 0.1.1 for the TYPO3 content management system. This security weakness resides in the extension's handling of user input parameters, specifically within the car extension component that processes data from web forms or URL parameters. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into database queries. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious input that gets directly interpreted as part of the SQL command structure, thereby bypassing normal authentication and authorization controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL queries without proper sanitization. The attack vector typically involves manipulation of URL parameters or form fields that are processed by the car extension's backend components. When the extension processes these inputs, it concatenates user-provided data directly into SQL statements without appropriate escaping or parameterization techniques. This allows threat actors to inject malicious SQL code that can manipulate the database structure, extract sensitive information, modify data, or even gain administrative access to the underlying database system. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of data stored within the TYPO3 system, as the malicious SQL commands can traverse the database access controls and execute with the privileges of the database user account.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or corruption, as it provides attackers with potential persistence mechanisms within the target environment. Successful exploitation can lead to complete compromise of the TYPO3 installation, enabling attackers to establish backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive information, or deploy additional malware. The remote nature of this attack means that threat actors can exploit the vulnerability from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the system or knowledge of internal network structures. This characteristic makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by automated scanning tools and increases the attack surface for organizations running vulnerable TYPO3 installations. The impact is compounded by the fact that TYPO3 is widely used for enterprise content management, making organizations using this platform attractive targets for cybercriminals seeking to gain access to sensitive business information.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the latest version of the Car extension where the vulnerability has been patched, applying the appropriate security patches released by TYPO3 developers, and implementing proper input validation mechanisms. Network segmentation and intrusion detection systems should be configured to monitor for suspicious SQL query patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers by filtering malicious SQL injection payloads before they reach the application. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within other extensions or components of the TYPO3 installation. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring and access control measures to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of keeping content management systems and their extensions updated, as well as implementing proper security coding practices that prevent injection vulnerabilities at the development level. This case serves as a reminder of the ATT&CK framework's relevance in understanding how adversaries can leverage such vulnerabilities to move laterally within compromised systems and establish persistent access to target environments.