CVE-2012-6577 in Formhandler
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the Formhandler extension before 1.4.1 for TYPO3 allows remote authenticated users with certain permissions to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2019
The CVE-2012-6577 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Formhandler extension for TYPO3 content management systems. This vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to 1.4.1 and exposes the system to remote authenticated attackers who possess certain administrative permissions. The flaw resides in how the Formhandler extension processes user input during form handling operations, creating an avenue for malicious actors to manipulate database queries through carefully crafted inputs. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only authenticated access with specific privileges rather than full administrative control, making it more accessible to attackers who have gained limited access to the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and parameter sanitization within the Formhandler extension's database interaction mechanisms. When legitimate users with appropriate permissions submit forms through the TYPO3 interface, the extension fails to properly escape or sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into SQL query strings. This allows attackers to inject malicious SQL fragments that get executed by the database engine, potentially enabling full database compromise. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that multiple entry points within the form processing logic could be exploited, making the attack surface broader than initially apparent. This weakness aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is directly incorporated into SQL commands without proper sanitization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation can lead to complete database compromise, unauthorized data modification, and potential lateral movement within the affected system. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, and system configuration details. The authenticated nature of the attack means that even if an attacker does not have full administrative privileges, they can still cause significant damage by manipulating form data and potentially escalating their access through database-level attacks. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations using TYPO3 platforms with Formhandler extensions, creating a substantial risk for content management systems that rely on form processing capabilities for user interactions, contact forms, and data collection mechanisms. The attack vector implications suggest that any form processing functionality within the TYPO3 environment using the vulnerable Formhandler extension could be targeted.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-6577 primarily focus on immediate version upgrading to 1.4.1 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the SQL injection vulnerability. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input validation measures and ensure that all user-supplied data is properly escaped before database insertion. Network segmentation and access control measures can help limit the potential impact of successful exploitation by restricting which users can access form processing functionality. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other extensions or components of the TYPO3 platform. Additionally, implementing database query monitoring and logging can help detect anomalous database activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date third-party components and following secure coding practices that prevent injection attacks, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation and T1566 for credential access through form injection attacks.