CVE-2015-8758 in TYPO3
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in unspecified frontend components in TYPO3 6.2.x before 6.2.16 and 7.x before 7.6.1 allow remote authenticated editors to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/02/2022
The CVE-2015-8758 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in TYPO3 content management systems affecting versions 6.2.x prior to 6.2.16 and 7.x prior to 7.6.1. This vulnerability specifically targets frontend components within the TYPO3 platform, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on this widely-used open-source CMS. The flaw allows authenticated editors with sufficient privileges to execute malicious scripts, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity across the affected installations. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script injection as it enables attackers to manipulate the CMS environment in ways that could lead to complete system compromise.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within TYPO3's frontend rendering components. Attackers with editor privileges can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious input that bypasses existing security controls, ultimately allowing them to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content. This occurs through unknown vectors that likely involve improper sanitization of user-supplied data before it is rendered in web pages. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws where web applications fail to properly validate or encode user input before incorporating it into dynamic content. The attack vector requires authentication, making it particularly concerning as it leverages legitimate user privileges to execute malicious code.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability presents a substantial risk to organizations using TYPO3, as authenticated editors typically have access to sensitive content management functions. The exploitation could result in session hijacking, data theft, unauthorized content modification, or even complete system compromise if the editor account has elevated privileges. The impact extends to user trust and brand reputation as malicious scripts could be executed in the context of legitimate user sessions, potentially affecting thousands of users who interact with the compromised website. Organizations may face regulatory compliance issues if sensitive data is accessed or modified through this vulnerability, particularly in environments governed by standards such as gdpr or hipaa. The vulnerability's presence in multiple version streams of TYPO3 also means that organizations across different maintenance phases remain at risk.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-8758 primarily involve immediate patching of affected TYPO3 installations to the recommended versions 6.2.16 or 7.6.1, which contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures including enhanced input validation, regular security audits of CMS components, and monitoring for suspicious user activities. The implementation of content security policies and proper output encoding practices can provide additional layers of protection. Security teams should also consider implementing privileged access monitoring and regular vulnerability scanning to detect similar issues proactively. Organizations following ATT&CK framework principles should include detection of suspicious CMS modification activities and unauthorized script injection attempts as part of their defensive strategies. Regular security training for content editors and administrators helps reduce the risk of exploitation through social engineering or insider threats, while maintaining up-to-date security configurations ensures that the CMS environment remains resilient against such vulnerabilities.