CVE-2015-1403 in Content Rating
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the Content Rating extension 1.0.3 and earlier for TYPO3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/06/2018
The CVE-2015-1403 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw within the Content Rating extension version 1.0.3 and earlier for the TYPO3 content management platform. This vulnerability resides in the extension's handling of user input within database queries, creating a pathway for remote attackers to manipulate the underlying database system. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or parameterize user-supplied data before incorporating it into sql commands. The vulnerability affects the Content Rating extension, which is designed to manage user ratings and content feedback within TYPO3 installations, making it a potentially high-impact target for attackers seeking to compromise content management systems.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when malicious input is processed through the extension's database interaction points without proper sanitization. Attackers can craft specially formatted inputs that, when processed by the vulnerable extension, get directly embedded into sql queries executed against the database backend. This allows for arbitrary sql command execution, potentially enabling attackers to extract sensitive data, modify database contents, or even escalate privileges within the system. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that the vulnerability may be present across multiple input points within the extension's codebase, making it particularly dangerous as it could be exploited through various attack surfaces. The vulnerability's classification as a sql injection flaw aligns with common weakness enumerations such as cwe-89, which specifically addresses sql injection vulnerabilities where user-controllable data is directly incorporated into sql commands without proper escaping or parameterization.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-1403 extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive information. Organizations running vulnerable TYPO3 installations with the Content Rating extension are at risk of data breaches, content manipulation, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require local system access or credentials to perform malicious activities, making it particularly attractive for automated exploitation campaigns. Database administrators and security teams face increased risk of unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion, while the integrity and availability of content management systems can be severely compromised. The attack surface is further expanded when considering that many organizations use TYPO3 for critical business applications, making successful exploitation potentially devastating for business continuity and regulatory compliance.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through patching the Content Rating extension to version 1.0.4 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the sql injection vulnerability. Security teams should implement network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts and establish proper input validation controls within their applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices such as parameterized queries and input sanitization, as outlined in the owasp top ten security risks and the cwe top 25 most dangerous software weaknesses. Additional mitigations include implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious sql injection attempts, conducting regular security assessments of third-party extensions, and maintaining up-to-date inventory of all installed extensions and their versions. System administrators should also consider implementing database activity monitoring and access controls to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of keeping content management platforms and their extensions updated, as well as the necessity of thorough security testing for all components within web application environments.