CVE-2012-6147 in TYPO3
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the tree render API (TCA-Tree) in the Backend API in TYPO3 4.5.x before 4.5.21, 4.6.x before 4.6.14, and 4.7.x before 4.7.6 allows remote authenticated backend users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/03/2022
The CVE-2012-6147 vulnerability represents a cross-site scripting flaw within TYPO3's Backend API, specifically affecting the Tree Render API (TCA-Tree functionality) across multiple version ranges. This vulnerability impacts TYPO3 installations running versions 4.5.x below 4.5.21, 4.6.x below 4.6.14, and 4.7.x below 4.7.6, creating a significant security risk for authenticated backend users who can exploit this weakness to execute malicious scripts within the application's administrative interface.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the TCA-Tree rendering component of TYPO3's backend system. This component is responsible for generating hierarchical tree structures used in the TYPO3 admin interface for managing content elements, pages, and other administrative functions. The vulnerability allows authenticated backend users to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code through unspecified vectors within the tree rendering process, which then gets executed when other users view the affected administrative interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it enables authenticated attackers with backend access to escalate their privileges and potentially compromise the entire TYPO3 installation. Since the vulnerability affects the backend API, successful exploitation could allow attackers to manipulate administrative functions, access sensitive data, modify content, or even establish persistent backdoors within the system. The fact that this affects authenticated users means that an attacker would need to first gain valid credentials, but once obtained, they could leverage this vulnerability to cause significant damage.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability maps to CWE-79 (Cross-site Scripting) and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript) as it allows for JavaScript injection attacks. The vulnerability also relates to ATT&CK technique T1547.001 (Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) through potential lateral movement and command execution capabilities. Organizations running affected TYPO3 versions should immediately apply the security patches released by TYPO3 GmbH, which address the input validation issues in the TCA-Tree component and implement proper output encoding for all user-supplied data within the backend interface.
The remediation strategy involves upgrading to the patched versions of TYPO3 as specified in the CVE details, implementing proper input validation measures, and conducting comprehensive security audits of all backend components. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious activities within their TYPO3 administrative interfaces to detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also review and strengthen their authentication controls to minimize the risk of unauthorized access that could lead to exploitation of this vulnerability.