CVE-2010-3687 in powermail
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the powermail extension 1.5.3 and earlier for TYPO3 allows remote attackers to bypass validation have an unspecified impact by "[injecting] arbitrary values into validated fields," as demonstrated using the (1) Email and (2) URL fields.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/07/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-3687 affects the powermail extension version 1.5.3 and earlier in the TYPO3 content management system, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of form validation mechanisms. This weakness resides in the extension's handling of user input within email and URL field validations, where attackers can manipulate the system by injecting arbitrary values that bypass the intended validation checks. The vulnerability specifically targets the powermail extension's validation logic, which is designed to ensure that email addresses conform to standard formats and that URLs follow proper syntax, yet fails to properly sanitize or validate input data before processing.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through injection techniques that allow attackers to manipulate form fields in ways that circumvent the validation layers designed to prevent malicious input. When users submit data through powermail forms, the system should validate that email addresses contain proper formatting and that URL fields contain legitimate web addresses. However, the flaw enables attackers to inject malformed or malicious data that passes through the validation mechanisms undetected. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of input validation bypass attacks and aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation as a fundamental weakness in software security. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning because it affects core validation functions that are essential for maintaining data integrity and preventing various downstream attacks that could exploit malformed data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption, as it creates potential pathways for more serious security breaches including cross-site scripting attacks, data injection into databases, or manipulation of system behavior through crafted input. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to submit malicious email addresses or URLs that might be processed by other system components, potentially leading to phishing campaigns, malware distribution, or further system compromise. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple versions of the powermail extension indicates a fundamental flaw in the validation implementation that was not adequately addressed through patch releases, creating an extended window of exposure for affected systems. Organizations running TYPO3 installations with vulnerable powermail extensions face significant risk of data integrity compromise and potential system infiltration through this validation bypass mechanism.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-3687 require immediate action including upgrading to powermail extension versions that address this validation bypass vulnerability, as well as implementing additional input sanitization measures at the application level. System administrators should conduct comprehensive audits of all TYPO3 installations to identify vulnerable powermail extension versions and apply patches promptly. The remediation process should include not only updating the extension but also reviewing and strengthening the overall form validation architecture to prevent similar issues in other components. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and additional monitoring for suspicious input patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability highlights the importance of robust input validation practices and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, which covers command and script injection methods that attackers might use to exploit validation bypasses. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar weaknesses in other system components and ensure comprehensive protection against injection-based attacks.