CVE-2015-1402 in Content Rating
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Content Rating extension 1.0.3 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 • 04/10/2018
The CVE-2015-1402 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Content Rating extension version 1.0.3 and earlier for the TYPO3 content management platform. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically targeting the web application's input validation mechanisms. The issue arises from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data within the extension's codebase, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the extension's failure to properly validate and escape user input before rendering it within web pages. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that are then executed when other users view affected content. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple input points within the extension could be compromised, potentially including form fields, URL parameters, or content management interfaces. This lack of specificity in the vulnerability description indicates a broad attack surface that could affect various interaction points within the TYPO3 environment.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations using TYPO3 with the affected Content Rating extension. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, redirect victims to malicious websites, or even deface the content management system. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as attackers could potentially escalate privileges or use the compromised system as a launching point for further attacks within the organization's network infrastructure. The vulnerability's remote nature means that exploitation does not require physical access or local network presence, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to a patched version of the Content Rating extension, applying the vendor-provided security updates, and implementing proper input validation measures. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.008 for Scripting and T1566.001 for Phishing, highlighting the attack vectors and techniques that threat actors might employ. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls, content security policies, and regular security audits to detect and prevent similar vulnerabilities. Additionally, the principle of least privilege should be enforced, ensuring that the extension's permissions are minimal and appropriate for its intended functionality. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of keeping content management systems and their extensions updated, as outdated software components remain primary targets for cyber adversaries seeking to exploit known weaknesses in web applications.