CVE-2013-5306 in Die-netzmacher
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the Browser - TYPO3 without PHP (browser) extension before 4.5.5 for TYPO3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/01/2019
The CVE-2013-5306 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Browser extension for TYPO3 content management system, specifically affecting versions prior to 4.5.5. This vulnerability resides in the browser extension component which is designed to handle web browser detection and user agent parsing without requiring PHP execution. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious SQL commands through unspecified vectors, potentially compromising the entire database infrastructure. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects a core extension that many TYPO3 installations rely upon for browser compatibility and user experience management. The attack surface is broad as the vulnerability can be exploited through various input vectors that are not explicitly defined in the original CVE description, making it challenging to fully assess all potential attack paths.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the Browser extension's database query construction logic. When the extension processes user agent strings or other browser-related data, it fails to properly escape or parameterize database inputs before incorporating them into SQL queries. This classic SQL injection pattern allows attackers to manipulate the intended query execution flow by injecting malicious SQL fragments that can alter the database command structure. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws in software applications. The root cause lies in the extension's failure to implement proper database abstraction layers or prepared statement usage, which are fundamental security controls recommended by the Open Web Application Security Project OWASP and the Center for Internet Security CIS benchmarks for preventing SQL injection attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-5306 extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation can enable attackers to execute arbitrary database commands with the privileges of the database user account. This could result in complete database compromise, including data exfiltration, data modification, or even database destruction. Attackers might leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges within the TYPO3 installation, potentially gaining access to administrative interfaces or extracting sensitive configuration information. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability from any location without requiring physical access to the server infrastructure. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 which covers application layer protocol manipulation, and T1046 which involves network service scanning that can lead to database exploitation. Organizations running affected TYPO3 installations face significant risk of unauthorized data access and potential system compromise, particularly in environments where database credentials have elevated privileges.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-5306 primarily focus on immediate version upgrades to TYPO3 4.5.5 or later, which includes patches addressing the SQL injection vulnerability in the Browser extension. System administrators should also implement comprehensive input validation and sanitization measures, ensuring that all user-provided data is properly escaped before database interaction. The implementation of web application firewalls and database activity monitoring can provide additional layers of protection by detecting and blocking suspicious SQL injection patterns. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of all TYPO3 extensions to identify similar vulnerabilities that might exist in other components. Regular security audits and code reviews focusing on database interaction patterns are essential practices recommended by ISO 27001 and NIST cybersecurity frameworks. Organizations should also consider implementing database access controls and privilege separation to minimize the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts, ensuring that database accounts used by TYPO3 have the minimum necessary permissions for system operation.