CVE-2012-1085 in beuserswitch
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the BE User Switch (beuserswitch) extension 0.0.1 for TYPO3 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/14/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1085 affects the BE User Switch extension version 0.0.1 within the TYPO3 content management system ecosystem. This particular extension was designed to enable backend users to switch between different user accounts for administrative purposes, but it contained a critical flaw that exposed sensitive information to unauthorized remote attackers. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability vectors suggests that the exact technical mechanism allowing information disclosure was not fully documented in the initial reporting, which is common with early vulnerability disclosures where researchers may not have fully understood all attack surfaces.
The technical flaw within the BE User Switch extension likely stems from inadequate input validation, improper access control mechanisms, or insufficient authentication checks within the extension's codebase. Given that this is a backend user switching functionality, the vulnerability would have potentially allowed attackers to access administrative session data, user credentials, or other sensitive backend information that should have been restricted to authorized personnel only. The vulnerability's classification as remote indicates that attackers could exploit this flaw without requiring physical access to the server or local network presence, making it particularly dangerous for web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it represents a fundamental breakdown in the TYPO3 system's security architecture. Attackers who successfully exploited this vulnerability could potentially escalate their privileges, gain unauthorized access to sensitive administrative functions, or extract confidential data from the TYPO3 backend. This type of vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and could enable attackers to compromise entire TYPO3 installations, especially since the extension was likely installed on systems with elevated privileges and access to critical system resources. The vulnerability would have been particularly concerning for organizations relying on TYPO3 for mission-critical applications where backend access could lead to complete system compromise.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which covers "Information Exposure," and potentially CWE-284, addressing "Improper Access Control," depending on the specific implementation details of the flaw. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this under T1078, "Valid Accounts," as attackers could potentially leverage the information obtained to maintain persistent access to the system. Organizations running affected TYPO3 installations would need to implement immediate mitigation strategies including updating to patched versions of the extension, implementing network-level restrictions, and monitoring for suspicious access patterns. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of thorough security testing for third-party extensions and the need for organizations to maintain up-to-date security practices for their CMS platforms. Given the age of this vulnerability, it serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining current security patches and the potential risks associated with legacy software components in enterprise environments.