CVE-2013-4683 in Meta Feedit
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the meta_feedit extension 0.1.10 and earlier for TYPO3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/12/2018
The CVE-2013-4683 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw within the meta_feedit extension version 0.1.10 and earlier for the TYPO3 content management system. This vulnerability resides in the extension's handling of user input parameters that are directly incorporated into sql query construction without proper sanitization or parameterization. The issue specifically affects the meta_feedit extension which is designed to manage frontend editing capabilities for TYPO3 websites, making it a particularly concerning target for attackers seeking to compromise web applications that rely on this functionality.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through unspecified vectors that likely involve manipulation of input parameters passed to the extension's backend sql operations. Attackers can craft malicious input that, when processed by the vulnerable extension, gets directly embedded into sql statements executed against the underlying database. This allows unauthorized individuals to execute arbitrary sql commands with the privileges of the web application's database user account. The vulnerability classification aligns with common weakness enumeration CWE-89 which specifically addresses sql injection flaws where untrusted data is incorporated into sql queries without proper validation or escaping mechanisms.
From an operational perspective, the impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete database compromise and potential system lateral movement. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to extract sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, and system configuration details stored within the database. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or local network privileges to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications. This weakness creates opportunities for attackers to escalate privileges, modify database content, or even establish persistent backdoors through database-level persistence mechanisms.
The security implications of CVE-2013-4683 align with tactics described in the mitre ATT&CK framework under the execution and privilege escalation domains, where attackers can leverage sql injection to execute arbitrary commands and potentially gain elevated system access. Organizations using affected TYPO3 versions with the meta_feedit extension face significant risk of data breaches and system compromise. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and parameterized queries in preventing sql injection attacks. Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability as part of broader application security assessments, particularly focusing on the handling of user-supplied data in web applications. Mitigation strategies must include immediate patching of the meta_feedit extension to version 0.1.11 or later, implementing proper input sanitization measures, and conducting comprehensive security reviews of all third-party extensions in TYPO3 installations. Additionally, database access controls should be reviewed to ensure that web application database accounts have minimal required privileges, following the principle of least privilege as recommended by industry security standards.