CVE-2013-7081 in TYPO3
Summary
by MITRE
The (old) Form Content Element component in TYPO3 4.5.0 through 4.5.31, 4.7.0 through 4.7.16, 6.0.0 through 6.0.11, and 6.1.0 through 6.1.6 allows remote authenticated editors to generate arbitrary HMAC signatures and bypass intended access restrictions via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/04/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-7081 affects the Form Content Element component within TYPO3 content management systems across multiple version ranges including 4.5.0 through 4.5.31, 4.7.0 through 4.7.16, 6.0.0 through 6.0.11, and 6.1.0 through 6.1.6. This represents a critical security flaw that enables authenticated attackers to manipulate cryptographic signatures and circumvent access controls. The issue stems from improper handling of HMAC (Hash-based Message Authentication Code) generation within the form processing functionality, creating a pathway for unauthorized privilege escalation and data manipulation.
The technical flaw manifests through unspecified vectors that allow remote authenticated editors to generate arbitrary HMAC signatures. This vulnerability specifically targets the cryptographic integrity mechanisms that should prevent unauthorized modifications to form data and access control decisions. When an attacker with editor privileges can bypass the intended HMAC validation process, they effectively gain the ability to forge legitimate requests and access restricted functionality. The flaw essentially undermines the cryptographic security model that TYPO3 employs to protect its content management interface from unauthorized access and manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it enables attackers to bypass multiple layers of access control and security checks within the TYPO3 system. Remote authenticated editors can exploit this weakness to access restricted administrative functions, modify content, and potentially escalate their privileges further within the CMS environment. This creates a significant risk for organizations relying on TYPO3, particularly those with multiple editors or less stringent access control policies, as the vulnerability can be exploited from remote locations without requiring additional authentication credentials.
Organizations affected by CVE-2013-7081 should prioritize immediate remediation through official TYPO3 security patches and updates, as the vulnerability affects multiple major version lines that were widely deployed across enterprise environments. Security teams should implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and conduct thorough access control reviews to identify any unauthorized modifications that may have occurred. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-347, which addresses improper verification of cryptographic signatures, and represents a significant concern under the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation tactics where attackers leverage system weaknesses to gain elevated access rights. Additionally, this flaw demonstrates the critical importance of cryptographic integrity checks in web applications and the potential for seemingly minor security gaps to create substantial operational risks when exploited by authenticated users.