CVE-2012-3531 in TYPO3
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Install Tool in TYPO3 4.5.x before 4.5.19, 4.6.x before 4.6.12 and 4.7.x before 4.7.4 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/27/2021
The CVE-2012-3531 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within TYPO3's Install Tool component, affecting multiple version branches including 4.5.x prior to 4.5.19, 4.6.x before 4.6.12, and 4.7.x before 4.7.4. This vulnerability resides in the TYPO3 content management system's installation and configuration interface, which serves as a critical administrative component for system setup and maintenance operations. The Install Tool typically operates with elevated privileges and provides access to sensitive system functions, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise TYPO3 installations. The vulnerability's presence in this privileged component significantly amplifies its potential impact, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute malicious code within the context of authenticated users' browsers.
The technical nature of this XSS vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the Install Tool's processing logic. While the exact vectors remain unspecified in the CVE description, such vulnerabilities typically arise from improper handling of user-supplied data in form fields, URL parameters, or configuration inputs that are subsequently rendered without proper encoding or filtering. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the browser context of legitimate users who access the Install Tool, particularly those with administrative privileges. This represents a classic reflected XSS scenario where malicious payloads are delivered through crafted input that gets immediately reflected back to the user's browser without appropriate sanitization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities within the compromised system. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to steal administrative session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, modify configuration settings, or even escalate privileges within the TYPO3 installation. The potential for privilege escalation is particularly concerning since the Install Tool typically operates with high-level administrative permissions, potentially allowing attackers to gain full control over the CMS installation. This vulnerability also poses significant risks to user data integrity and system availability, as attackers could manipulate the installation process or corrupt system configurations.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, where it aligns with techniques such as credential access through web application attacks and privilege escalation via compromised administrative interfaces. The vulnerability maps to CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, emphasizing the importance of proper input validation and output encoding. Organizations utilizing affected TYPO3 versions should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to patched versions, implementing web application firewalls, and conducting comprehensive security assessments of their CMS installations. Additionally, administrative access to the Install Tool should be restricted through network segmentation and authentication controls to limit the attack surface and prevent unauthorized access to this critical component.