CVE-2010-4892 in powermail
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the powermail extension before 1.5.5 for TYPO3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/12/2019
The CVE-2010-4892 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the powermail extension for TYPO3 content management system. This vulnerability affects versions prior to 1.5.5 and creates a significant security risk by allowing remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content into web pages viewed by other users. The powermail extension is commonly used for creating contact forms and email processing functionality within TYPO3 websites, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could be exploited to compromise user sessions, steal sensitive information, or manipulate website content. The unspecified vectors indicate that the attack could occur through multiple entry points within the extension's functionality, including form submissions, configuration parameters, or user input handling mechanisms. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, where improper validation or sanitization of user-supplied data allows malicious code execution in the context of the victim's browser.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when user input is not properly sanitized before being rendered in web pages. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that, when processed by the vulnerable powermail extension, get executed in the browsers of unsuspecting users who view the affected pages. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of web content, or redirection to malicious websites. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not need physical access to the system or local network privileges to exploit it, making it particularly concerning for web applications that handle sensitive data or user interactions. The flaw essentially allows an attacker to inject malicious code that persists on the server and executes whenever the affected page is loaded, creating a persistent threat vector that can affect multiple users over time.
Organizations running TYPO3 installations with vulnerable powermail extensions face substantial operational risks from this vulnerability. The attack surface includes any website utilizing the powermail extension for contact forms, newsletter subscriptions, or other user submission functionalities. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to user data, compromise of user sessions, and potential data breaches that could result in regulatory compliance violations and reputational damage. The vulnerability's impact is amplified because it affects the core functionality of the TYPO3 CMS platform, which many organizations rely upon for their digital presence. Security teams must consider the potential for cascading effects if the compromised website serves as a vector for further attacks against other systems within the organization's network infrastructure. The vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of keeping content management systems and their extensions updated, as the issue was resolved in version 1.5.5 of the powermail extension, highlighting the need for regular security maintenance and patch management processes.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2010-4892 primarily involves upgrading to the patched version 1.5.5 or later of the powermail extension for TYPO3. Organizations should immediately assess their TYPO3 installations to identify all instances of the vulnerable extension and implement the necessary updates. Additionally, administrators should implement input validation and output encoding mechanisms to further reduce the risk of XSS exploitation even if other vulnerabilities exist. Security monitoring should include scanning for the presence of vulnerable extensions and ensuring that all third-party components are regularly updated and patched according to vendor security advisories. The remediation process should also involve reviewing access controls and implementing proper security configurations for the CMS platform to minimize the attack surface. This vulnerability underscores the critical importance of the ATT&CK framework's defensive strategies around input validation and output encoding as mitigation techniques for preventing XSS attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional layers of protection against similar vulnerabilities in the future.