CVE-2009-4395 in Ste Prayer2
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Random Prayer 2 (ste_prayer2) extension 0.0.3 and earlier for TYPO3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/26/2017
The CVE-2009-4395 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Random Prayer 2 extension for TYPO3 content management system. This vulnerability affects versions 0.0.3 and earlier, exposing web applications to potential remote code execution through malicious script injection. The flaw resides in the extension's improper handling of user input data, creating an entry point for attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of victim users' browsers. The vulnerability's classification as a persistent XSS issue means that malicious payloads can be stored on the server and subsequently executed whenever affected pages are accessed, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that process user-generated content.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the ste_prayer2 extension. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting malicious input that gets processed and displayed without proper sanitization, allowing them to inject script tags or other malicious code. The unspecified vectors in the original description suggest that multiple input points within the extension could be compromised, including form fields, URL parameters, or content management interfaces. This broad attack surface increases the likelihood of successful exploitation and makes the vulnerability particularly challenging to defend against. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79 which defines the weakness of Cross-site Scripting in software applications, where the system fails to properly encode output data that is subsequently rendered in web browsers.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for TYPO3 installations using the affected extension. An attacker could exploit this weakness to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, redirect victims to malicious websites, or even execute full browser-based attacks. The impact extends beyond simple data theft, as attackers could leverage the vulnerability to establish persistent access to compromised systems through session hijacking or by injecting backdoors. Organizations using TYPO3 with this extension face potential data breaches, service disruption, and compliance violations, particularly in environments where sensitive information is processed or stored. The vulnerability also provides attackers with a potential foothold for further network exploration and lateral movement within compromised environments, as demonstrated by ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-4395 should prioritize immediate remediation through updating to a patched version of the Random Prayer 2 extension. Organizations must also implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding measures across all web applications to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers, proper HTML escaping mechanisms, and regular security audits of third-party extensions can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. Additionally, network monitoring and intrusion detection systems should be configured to identify suspicious patterns of traffic that may indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of all TYPO3 installations to identify other potentially vulnerable extensions or components that may share similar security weaknesses. Regular security training for developers and administrators on secure coding practices and proper input sanitization techniques remains essential for preventing future occurrences of such vulnerabilities. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against browser-based attacks.