CVE-2012-1078 in sysutils
Summary
by MITRE
The System Utilities (sysutils) extension 1.0.3 and earlier for TYPO3 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via unspecified vectors related to improper "protection" of the "backup output directory."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/14/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1078 affects the System Utilities extension version 1.0.3 and earlier within the TYPO3 content management platform. This issue represents a critical information disclosure weakness that arises from inadequate protection mechanisms surrounding the backup output directory functionality. The vulnerability stems from the extension's failure to properly secure sensitive system data that is generated and stored in the backup output directory, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to system information.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper implementation of access controls and directory protection mechanisms within the TYPO3 sysutils extension. Attackers can exploit this weakness through unspecified vectors that ultimately lead to the exposure of sensitive information stored in the backup output directory. This directory typically contains system-generated backup files, configuration data, and potentially other sensitive artifacts that should remain protected from unauthorized access. The vulnerability's classification as an information disclosure issue indicates that it does not directly enable code execution or privilege escalation but rather provides attackers with access to data that could be used for further exploitation or system compromise.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to TYPO3 installations that utilize the affected sysutils extension. The exposure of backup output directory contents can reveal system configurations, database connection details, user information, and other sensitive data that could be leveraged by attackers to plan more sophisticated attacks. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers do not require local system access or credentials to exploit the vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited from any location on the internet. This information disclosure could facilitate subsequent attacks including credential harvesting, system reconnaissance, and potential privilege escalation attempts.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses "Information Exposure" and represents a common class of security flaws where sensitive data is inadvertently exposed to unauthorized parties. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving reconnaissance and credential access, as the exposed information could be used to gather intelligence about the target system and identify potential attack vectors. Organizations using affected TYPO3 versions should prioritize immediate remediation through patching the sysutils extension to version 1.0.4 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the backup output directory protection mechanisms. Additionally, system administrators should implement network segmentation, access controls, and regular security monitoring to reduce the potential impact of similar vulnerabilities in other system components. The incident underscores the importance of proper directory permissions, secure coding practices, and regular security assessments to prevent information disclosure vulnerabilities that could compromise entire system infrastructures.