CVE-2010-4957 in Ke Questionnaire
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the Questionnaire (ke_questionnaire) extension before 2.2.3 for TYPO3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/10/2018
The CVE-2010-4957 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Questionnaire extension for TYPO3 content management system, specifically affecting versions prior to 2.2.3. This vulnerability resides in the ke_questionnaire extension which is commonly used for creating and managing online surveys and questionnaires within TYPO3 environments. The flaw enables remote attackers to manipulate database queries through unspecified input vectors, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data and system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it affects a widely used extension within the TYPO3 ecosystem, making numerous websites and web applications susceptible to exploitation.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the extension's database interaction mechanisms. When user inputs are processed through the questionnaire functionality, the extension fails to properly escape or parameterize SQL query components, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands. This weakness aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL queries without proper sanitization. The vulnerability permits attackers to manipulate the underlying database queries through crafted input parameters, potentially enabling them to extract, modify, or delete database contents.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-4957 extends beyond simple data theft, as it can facilitate complete system compromise when exploited effectively. Remote attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to database credentials, user information, and potentially escalate privileges within the TYPO3 system. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of all data managed through the questionnaire extension, including sensitive survey responses and user personal information. Organizations running affected TYPO3 installations with the ke_questionnaire extension are at risk of data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and reputational damage. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the target system.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve immediate patching of the affected TYPO3 extension to version 2.2.3 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. System administrators should also implement proper input validation measures, including parameterized queries and proper sanitization of all user inputs before database processing. Network-based security controls such as web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers, though they should not be considered a substitute for proper code-level fixes. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their TYPO3 installations to identify other potentially vulnerable extensions and ensure all software components are running supported versions. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software and following secure coding practices, particularly in web applications that handle user input and database interactions, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1190 for SQL injection attacks and emphasizing the need for proper input validation controls.