CVE-2011-4901 in TYPO3
Summary
by MITRE
TYPO3 before 4.3.12, 4.4.x before 4.4.9, and 4.5.x before 4.5.4 allows remote attackers to extract arbitrary information from the TYPO3 database.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/07/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4901 represents a critical information disclosure flaw affecting TYPO3 content management systems across multiple version ranges including versions prior to 4.3.12, 4.4.x before 4.4.9, and 4.5.x before 4.5.4. This vulnerability resides within the database interaction mechanisms of the TYPO3 framework and enables remote attackers to extract arbitrary information from the underlying database without proper authentication or authorization. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and insufficient access controls within the database query execution processes, creating a pathway for unauthorized data retrieval that could expose sensitive information including user credentials, database schema details, and potentially confidential content stored within the CMS.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of improper input sanitization where database queries are constructed using user-supplied parameters without adequate filtering or escaping mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious requests that manipulate database query parameters, potentially leading to data leakage through SQL injection techniques or direct database access methods. The vulnerability specifically targets the database abstraction layer within TYPO3 where user input is processed and converted into database operations, making it particularly dangerous as it operates at a foundational level of the application's data handling capabilities. This flaw aligns with CWE-20, which categorizes improper input validation as a primary cause of security vulnerabilities in web applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-4901 extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable further attacks within the compromised environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain access to user account information, administrative credentials, and sensitive business data stored within the TYPO3 database. The exposure of database schema information provides attackers with valuable reconnaissance data that could facilitate more sophisticated attacks including privilege escalation or additional exploitation attempts. Organizations running affected TYPO3 versions face significant risk of data breaches and potential system compromise, particularly in environments where the CMS handles sensitive information or serves as a critical business application.
Security practitioners should prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability through the application of official patches released by TYPO3 GmbH for the affected version ranges. The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to TYPO3 versions 4.3.12, 4.4.9, or 4.5.4 respectively, which contain the necessary fixes addressing the input validation and access control issues. Organizations should also implement network-level protections including firewall rules and intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. Additionally, the implementation of web application firewalls and regular security scanning can help detect and prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and proper input validation practices in web applications, aligning with ATT&CK framework techniques related to credential access and reconnaissance activities that leverage information disclosure vulnerabilities.