CVE-2014-6235 in ke DomPDF
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the ke DomPDF extension before 0.0.5 for TYPO3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/26/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6235 represents a critical security flaw within the ke DomPDF extension for TYPO3 content management system. This extension serves as a PDF generation tool that integrates with TYPO3's web publishing platform, enabling users to create PDF documents from web content. The vulnerability exists in versions prior to 0.0.5 and allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests that multiple pathways could potentially be exploited, making the vulnerability particularly concerning for security professionals who must consider various attack surfaces.
The technical flaw resides within the extension's handling of user-supplied input during PDF generation processes. When TYPO3 processes content through the ke DomPDF extension, it likely accepts various parameters and content elements that are then rendered into PDF documents. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly handle malicious payloads. Attackers can leverage this weakness by injecting crafted code or commands that get executed during the PDF generation process, effectively bypassing normal security boundaries. This type of vulnerability typically falls under CWE-74, which describes "Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component," and potentially CWE-94, "Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')."
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for organizations using affected versions of TYPO3 with the ke DomPDF extension. Remote attackers can gain unauthorized code execution privileges, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or service disruption. The attack surface extends beyond simple PDF generation to include any functionality that utilizes the vulnerable extension, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users can submit content or where the extension is used in automated processes. Organizations may face unauthorized access to sensitive data, modification of web content, or establishment of persistent backdoors through this vulnerability. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the target system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-6235 should focus on immediate version updates to the ke DomPDF extension, specifically upgrading to version 0.0.5 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed. System administrators should also implement network-level controls such as firewalls and access controls to limit exposure of the affected extension. Input validation should be strengthened at multiple levels, including application-level filtering and sanitization of all content processed through the PDF generation functionality. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious activity related to PDF generation requests, and regular security audits should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other third-party extensions. Organizations should also consider implementing the principle of least privilege, ensuring that the PDF generation functionality operates with minimal necessary permissions to reduce potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of keeping content management systems and their extensions updated, as well as the necessity of implementing comprehensive security controls around third-party integrations.