CVE-2011-4631 in TYPO3
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site Scripting (XSS) in TYPO3 before 4.3.12, 4.4.x before 4.4.9, and 4.5.x before 4.5.4 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the system extension recycler.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/07/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4631 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the TYPO3 content management system that affected multiple version branches including 4.3.12, 4.4.9, and 4.5.4. This vulnerability specifically targeted the system extension recycler which is designed to manage deleted content and facilitate restoration of items within the TYPO3 administrative interface. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it within web pages.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when malicious actors exploit the recycler extension's handling of user input parameters, particularly those related to deleted records and their restoration processes. Attackers can craft malicious scripts within the parameters that are then executed in the context of other users' browsers who access the affected TYPO3 administrative interface. This occurs because the application does not properly escape or filter special characters in the data flow from user input to HTML output, creating an environment where malicious JavaScript code can be injected and subsequently executed. The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79 which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is used to generate web content without proper validation or escaping, making it a prime target for exploitation by threat actors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it provides attackers with the ability to establish persistent access to administrative interfaces and potentially compromise entire TYPO3 installations. When exploited, the XSS vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of authenticated users, potentially leading to privilege escalation, session hijacking, and unauthorized modifications to website content. The recycler extension's role in managing deleted content makes it particularly attractive to attackers since it often contains sensitive data about system operations and user activities. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which describes social engineering tactics involving the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-4631 require immediate patching of affected TYPO3 installations to versions 4.3.12, 4.4.9, or 4.5.4 which contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation measures and ensure all user-supplied data undergoes proper sanitization before being processed or displayed within web interfaces. Additionally, security teams should consider implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to provide an additional layer of protection against script injection attacks. Regular security audits of TYPO3 installations and their extensions should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities, with particular attention to administrative interfaces that handle user input. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and monitoring for emerging threats in web application environments, as demonstrated by the broader category of web application security issues classified under OWASP Top Ten Project's A03:2021 - Injection vulnerabilities.