CVE-2012-1072 in Toi Category
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the Category-System (toi_category) extension 0.6.0 and earlier for TYPO3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/23/2018
The CVE-2012-1072 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw within the Category-System extension for TYPO3 content management platform. This vulnerability specifically affects version 0.6.0 and earlier releases of the toi_category extension, creating a significant security risk for organizations utilizing TYPO3 websites. The flaw resides in how the extension processes user input when handling category-related functionality, potentially allowing malicious actors to manipulate database queries through crafted input parameters. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data theft as it enables complete database compromise and potential system takeover.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through sql injection vectors that are not explicitly detailed in the original CVE description, suggesting the flaw exists in parameter handling within the extension's database interaction code. Attackers can leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary sql commands against the underlying database, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive information, modifying database content, or even escalating privileges within the system. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-89 indicates it falls squarely within the category of sql injection flaws where insufficient input validation allows malicious sql code to be executed. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited without requiring authentication or specialized knowledge of the target system's internal structure.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability poses severe risks to organizations running TYPO3 installations with the affected extension. Remote attackers can exploit this flaw to gain complete control over the database backend, potentially leading to data breaches, service disruption, and system compromise. The attack surface is broad as the vulnerability affects any website using the toi_category extension in versions 0.6.0 or earlier, making it a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns. Organizations may experience unauthorized data modification, information disclosure, and potential denial of service conditions. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple TYPO3 versions indicates a fundamental flaw in the extension's input sanitization mechanisms, requiring immediate attention and remediation.
The remediation approach for this vulnerability centers on immediate patching of the toi_category extension to version 0.6.1 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should also implement input validation measures and consider database query parameterization to reduce the risk of similar vulnerabilities. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts, and access controls should be reviewed to minimize the impact of successful attacks. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation and T1190 for exploitation of remote services, demonstrating how sql injection attacks can be leveraged for broader system compromise. The incident underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date third-party extensions and implementing robust security testing procedures for all web application components.