CVE-2010-3665 in TYPO3
Summary
by MITRE
TYPO3 before 4.1.14, 4.2.x before 4.2.13, 4.3.x before 4.3.4 and 4.4.x before 4.4.1 allows XSS on the Extension Manager.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/05/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-3665 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within the TYPO3 content management system that affects multiple version ranges including 4.1.13 and earlier, 4.2.12 and earlier, 4.3.3 and earlier, and 4.4.0 and earlier. This issue specifically targets the Extension Manager component which serves as a critical interface for administrators to manage and install extensions within the TYPO3 environment. The flaw arises from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly handle malicious user-supplied data within the extension management interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the TYPO3 system's failure to adequately sanitize user inputs when processing extension-related data. Attackers can exploit this weakness by submitting malicious payloads through the Extension Manager interface, which then gets reflected back to other users who view the affected pages. This occurs because the system does not properly escape or filter special characters in extension names, descriptions, or other metadata fields that are displayed to end users. The vulnerability is classified as CWE-79 - Cross-site Scripting, which represents one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws in the industry.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or display issues as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of other users' browsers. This enables a range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, redirection to malicious websites, and potential privilege escalation within the TYPO3 environment. The attack surface is particularly concerning because the Extension Manager interface is typically accessible to administrators and power users who may have elevated privileges within the system, making successful exploitation potentially devastating. According to ATT&CK framework category T1059.007 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, this vulnerability allows adversaries to leverage client-side scripting capabilities for further compromise.
Organizations running affected TYPO3 versions face significant security risks as this vulnerability can be exploited without authentication requirements, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible websites. The impact is compounded by the fact that many organizations may not immediately patch their systems, especially when the vulnerability affects long-term support releases. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor input validation practices that align with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 - Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts, as attackers can potentially leverage compromised user sessions to maintain persistence. Security teams should consider implementing additional monitoring for unusual extension installation patterns and user behavior anomalies. The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to the patched versions of TYPO3, specifically versions 4.1.14, 4.2.13, 4.3.4, and 4.4.1, which contain proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Additionally, administrators should implement web application firewalls and content security policies to provide defense-in-depth protection against similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper input validation and output encoding in web applications, particularly in administrative interfaces where the potential for privilege escalation exists.