CVE-2012-6148 in TYPO3
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the function menu 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.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2019
The CVE-2012-6148 vulnerability represents a significant cross-site scripting flaw within the TYPO3 content management system that affects multiple version branches including 4.5.x before 4.5.21, 4.6.x before 4.6.14, and 4.7.x before 4.7.6. This vulnerability specifically targets the function menu API component of the TYPO3 backend system, creating a dangerous attack surface for authenticated users who possess backend access privileges. The flaw enables malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into the system, potentially compromising the integrity and security of the entire CMS infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the menu API functions of TYPO3. When authenticated backend users interact with the menu system, the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in the web interface. This insufficient sanitization creates an opportunity for attackers to inject malicious payloads that execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the backend administration interface where legitimate users with appropriate permissions can manipulate menu configurations and content.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability poses a severe risk to organizations relying on TYPO3 for their web content management needs. The fact that it requires only authenticated backend user access means that the attack vector is significantly reduced compared to vulnerabilities requiring public exploitation. However, the potential impact remains high as attackers with backend privileges can leverage this flaw to execute malicious scripts against other administrators or content editors who view affected pages. The vulnerability could be exploited to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of other users within the CMS.
The attack surface of CVE-2012-6148 aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in web applications. This classification indicates that the flaw represents a classic input validation issue where user-controllable data flows directly into the application's output without proper sanitization. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers social engineering attacks through malicious content injection, as the XSS flaw enables attackers to deliver malicious payloads that can compromise other users. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of a broader attack chain that could lead to privilege escalation or data exfiltration.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to the patched versions of TYPO3 4.5.21, 4.6.14, or 4.7.6 respectively. Additionally, administrators should review and restrict backend user permissions, implement proper input validation controls, and conduct thorough security assessments of all menu-related configurations. The remediation process should include monitoring for suspicious user activities and implementing web application firewalls to detect and block potential XSS attempts. Regular security audits and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other components of the TYPO3 installation.