CVE-2009-4955 in Th Ultracards
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the ultraCards (th_ultracards) extension before 0.5.1 for TYPO3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2018
The CVE-2009-4955 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw within the ultraCards extension for TYPO3 content management system. This vulnerability affects versions prior to 0.5.1 and creates a significant security risk by allowing remote attackers to execute arbitrary sql commands through unspecified attack vectors. The issue resides in the extension's improper handling of user input, which enables malicious actors to manipulate sql queries and gain unauthorized access to the underlying database. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of input validation and proper sql query sanitization, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that rely on database interactions for core functionality.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the ultraCards extension fails to properly escape or sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into sql statements. Attackers can craft malicious inputs that bypass normal input validation mechanisms and inject additional sql commands into the query execution flow. This flaw typically manifests when the extension processes user parameters through get or post requests without adequate sanitization, allowing sql injection payloads to be executed directly against the database backend. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple input points within the extension could potentially be exploited, making the vulnerability particularly insidious as it may not be immediately apparent which specific parameters are vulnerable.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability creates severe consequences for affected systems running TYPO3 with the ultraCards extension. Remote attackers can potentially extract sensitive data from the database including user credentials, personal information, and system configuration details. The ability to execute arbitrary sql commands means attackers could modify or delete database records, create new administrative accounts, or even escalate privileges within the system. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as attackers could potentially use the compromised system as a foothold for further attacks within the network infrastructure, making this vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors seeking persistent access to target environments.
The vulnerability aligns with common weakness enumerations such as CWE-89 sql injection, which classifies this as a fundamental flaw in input validation and data sanitization practices. This weakness falls under the broader category of injection flaws that represent one of the most prevalent security vulnerabilities in web applications according to the OWASP top ten. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this vulnerability under the initial access phase, specifically as a technique for gaining access through vulnerable web applications. Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including patching to version 0.5.1 or later, implementing proper input validation, and conducting thorough security assessments of all extension components. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious sql query patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and access controls should be strengthened to limit database privileges for web application accounts.
Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to help detect and block sql injection attempts, while maintaining regular security updates and vulnerability scanning procedures. The remediation process requires not only patching the specific vulnerability but also reviewing the overall security posture of the TYPO3 installation to identify other potential weaknesses that could be exploited by similar attack vectors. System administrators should establish monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized database access patterns and ensure that proper backup and recovery procedures are in place to mitigate potential damage from successful exploitation attempts.