CVE-2015-2047 in TYPO3
Summary
by MITRE
The rsaauth extension in TYPO3 4.3.0 through 4.3.14, 4.4.0 through 4.4.15, 4.5.0 through 4.5.39, and 4.6.0 through 4.6.18, when configured for the frontend, allows remote attackers to bypass authentication via a password that is casted to an empty value.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/10/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-2047 resides within the rsaauth extension of TYPO3 content management systems, affecting multiple version ranges from 4.3.0 through 4.3.14, 4.4.0 through 4.4.15, 4.5.0 through 4.5.39, and 4.6.0 through 4.6.18. This authentication bypass flaw specifically manifests when the extension is configured for frontend use, creating a critical security gap that could allow unauthorized access to protected resources. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of password values during authentication processes, where certain password inputs are inadvertently converted to empty values through type casting mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a specific flaw in how the rsaauth extension processes user credentials when operating in frontend mode. When a user submits authentication credentials, the system performs type casting operations on the password field that can result in valid password inputs being transformed into empty strings. This occurs due to improper validation and sanitization of input data, particularly in scenarios where password values contain characters or combinations that trigger the casting behavior. The flaw represents a classic case of inadequate input validation and type handling that violates security best practices established in industry standards such as CWE-184, which addresses incomplete type checking or casting.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple authentication bypass to potentially enable full system compromise when combined with other attack vectors. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to frontend areas of TYPO3 installations, potentially leading to content manipulation, data theft, or further escalation within the application environment. The vulnerability's scope is particularly concerning because it affects multiple version lines of TYPO3, indicating a widespread exposure across numerous installations that may not have been properly updated or patched. This authentication bypass could allow attackers to access protected pages, user accounts, or administrative functions depending on the specific implementation and configuration of the affected TYPO3 systems.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through official TYPO3 security patches released for the affected versions, as these updates contain the necessary code modifications to address the type casting issue in the rsaauth extension. System administrators should also implement network-level monitoring to detect unusual authentication patterns and credential submissions that might indicate exploitation attempts. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive testing of authentication flows after patch application and verification that legitimate user credentials continue to function properly. Security teams should also consider implementing additional authentication controls such as multi-factor authentication and account lockout mechanisms to provide defense-in-depth against potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and type handling in security-critical components, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1110 for credential access and highlighting the need for robust authentication system design.