CVE-2014-6231 in CWT Frontend Edit
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the CWT Frontend Edit (cwt_feedit) extension before 1.2.5 for TYPO3 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6231 affects the CWT Frontend Edit extension for TYPO3, a popular content management system. This issue represents a critical security flaw that existed in versions prior to 1.2.5, creating a significant risk for organizations relying on TYPO3 for their web presence. The vulnerability is classified as a remote code execution flaw that can be exploited by authenticated users, meaning that an attacker who has gained legitimate access to the system can leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary code on the target server. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability vectors suggests that the underlying flaw could manifest through multiple attack pathways within the extension's codebase, making it particularly dangerous as defenders cannot easily predict or defend against all potential exploitation methods.
This vulnerability falls under the broader category of code execution flaws and can be mapped to CWE-94, which represents "Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')" in the Common Weakness Enumeration system. The attack vector specifically aligns with the ATT&CK framework's technique T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" and T1059.001 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: Command Shell", as the successful exploitation would likely involve executing malicious commands through the compromised TYPO3 extension. The fact that this vulnerability requires authentication makes it somewhat less severe than fully unauthenticated exploits, but it remains critically dangerous as it allows for privilege escalation from a legitimate user account to full system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-6231 extends beyond simple code execution, potentially enabling attackers to gain persistent access to affected systems, exfiltrate sensitive data, or use the compromised server as a launchpad for further attacks within the network infrastructure. Organizations running TYPO3 installations with vulnerable versions of the CWT Frontend Edit extension face the risk of complete system compromise, data breaches, and potential regulatory violations. The vulnerability's presence in a frontend editing extension is particularly concerning because such extensions typically require elevated privileges to function properly, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking to escalate their privileges within the system. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that many organizations use frontend editing capabilities for content management, meaning that legitimate users may be unknowingly providing attackers with access vectors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-6231 center around immediate patching of the affected CWT Frontend Edit extension to version 1.2.5 or later, which would address the underlying code execution vulnerability. System administrators should also implement network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation and employ monitoring solutions to detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additional defensive measures include restricting the number of users with frontend editing privileges, implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts, and conducting regular security assessments of TYPO3 extensions to identify other potential vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious requests that might be attempting to exploit this vulnerability, while maintaining detailed logs of all frontend editing activities for forensic analysis purposes. The remediation process should include thorough testing of the patched extension to ensure that the update does not introduce compatibility issues with existing TYPO3 installations.