CVE-2009-4397 in Pd Resources
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Diocese of Portsmouth Resources Database (pd_resources) extension 0.1.1 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 • 12/22/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-4397 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Diocese of Portsmouth Resources Database extension for TYPO3 content management system. This vulnerability affects versions 0.1.1 and earlier, creating a significant security risk for organizations utilizing this specific TYPO3 extension. The flaw resides in the improper handling of user-supplied input data within the extension's processing mechanisms, allowing malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected user sessions.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the pd_resources extension components. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that are then processed and rendered by the TYPO3 system without proper sanitization. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple entry points within the extension may be susceptible to injection attacks, potentially including form fields, URL parameters, or other user-controllable data inputs. This broad attack surface increases the exploitability of the vulnerability and reduces the effectiveness of simple input filtering approaches.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user information, manipulate data within the application, or redirect users to malicious websites. The implications are particularly severe for a resources database system that likely contains sensitive organizational information, potentially exposing confidential data about diocesan resources, personnel, or institutional assets. The vulnerability essentially allows attackers to establish persistent malicious presence within the TYPO3 environment, potentially leading to full system compromise or data exfiltration.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigation strategies including updating to the latest available version of the pd_resources extension, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability would map to the execution phase of the kill chain under the ATT&CK framework, specifically targeting the web application layer for privilege escalation and data theft. Security teams should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers and regular security assessments to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of the TYPO3 installation.