CVE-2013-4680 in Maag Form Captcha
Summary
by MITRE
Open redirect vulnerability in Maag Form Captcha extension 2.0.0 and earlier for TYPO3 allows remote attackers to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/20/2018
The CVE-2013-4680 vulnerability represents a critical open redirect flaw within the Maag Form Captcha extension version 2.0.0 and earlier for the TYPO3 content management system. This vulnerability resides in the extension's handling of user input and redirect parameters, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate the application's redirect functionality. The flaw enables attackers to craft deceptive links that appear legitimate but ultimately redirect users to malicious third-party domains, exploiting the trust users place in the original website's interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the Maag Form Captcha extension's redirect mechanism. When users interact with forms that utilize this extension, the application processes redirect parameters without adequate verification of their destination URLs. This allows attackers to inject malicious URLs into redirect parameters, which are then processed and executed by the TYPO3 application. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that the extension operates within a widely used CMS platform, providing attackers with access to potentially large user bases.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability extend beyond simple redirection, creating significant opportunities for sophisticated phishing campaigns and social engineering attacks. Attackers can leverage this flaw to redirect users to carefully crafted malicious websites that mimic legitimate services, potentially capturing sensitive credentials or personal information. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill, making it particularly dangerous as it can be easily incorporated into automated attack frameworks. Users may not immediately recognize that they have been redirected to a fraudulent site, especially when the initial redirect appears to originate from a trusted source.
Security practitioners should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, beginning with immediate patching of affected TYPO3 installations and the Maag Form Captcha extension to versions that address the redirect validation issue. Network-level controls such as web application firewalls can provide additional protection by monitoring and blocking suspicious redirect patterns, though these measures should not replace proper code-level fixes. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments of their TYPO3 installations to identify other potential vulnerabilities within the extension ecosystem. The mitigation strategy aligns with CWE-601 open redirect vulnerability classification and follows ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for credential harvesting through phishing. Regular security updates and patch management protocols should be enforced across all CMS platforms to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.