CVE-2013-4749 in Usertask Center Messaging
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the UserTask Center, Messaging (sys_messages) extension 1.1.0 and earlier for TYPO3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/18/2019
The CVE-2013-4749 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the TYPO3 Content Management Framework that affects the UserTask Center and Messaging extension versions 1.1.0 and earlier. This vulnerability resides in the sys_messages extension which is responsible for handling system messages and user notifications within the TYPO3 administrative interface. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of a victim's browser session, potentially compromising user data and system integrity. The vulnerability specifically impacts the extension's handling of user input without proper sanitization, creating an avenue for attackers to inject malicious HTML or JavaScript code into the application's response.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through unspecified vectors within the messaging system where user-supplied data is not adequately validated or escaped before being rendered in the web interface. This allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that can be executed when other users view system messages or task notifications. The vulnerability's classification as a reflected XSS issue means that malicious scripts are injected into web pages that are then served to users, making it particularly dangerous in administrative environments where privileged users frequently interact with system messages. The flaw essentially bypasses the application's input validation mechanisms, enabling attackers to manipulate the application's behavior and potentially escalate privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-4749 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can lead to complete session hijacking, data theft, and privilege escalation within the TYPO3 environment. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal administrator credentials, modify system configurations, or redirect users to malicious websites. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of TYPO3's administrative interface, potentially compromising all user tasks and system notifications that rely on the vulnerable messaging extension. Given that this affects the UserTask Center component, it can impact workflows where users perform critical administrative functions, making the attack surface particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where TYPO3 serves as the primary content management platform.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including upgrading to versions of the sys_messages extension that address this vulnerability, as well as implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and follows ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script injection attacks. Security measures should include comprehensive logging of system message interactions, implementation of content security policies, and regular security assessments of TYPO3 extensions. Additionally, administrators should conduct thorough penetration testing to identify any similar vulnerabilities in other extensions and ensure that all third-party components are regularly updated to prevent exploitation of known security flaws.