CVE-2022-23501 in TYPO3
Summary
by MITRE • 12/14/2022
TYPO3 is an open source PHP based web content management system. In versions prior to 8.7.49, 9.5.38, 10.4.33, 11.5.20, and 12.1.1 TYPO3 is vulnerable to Improper Authentication. Restricting frontend login to specific users, organized in different storage folders (partitions), can be bypassed. A potential attacker might use this ambiguity in usernames to get access to a different account - however, credentials must be known to the adversary. This issue is patched in versions 8.7.49 ELTS, 9.5.38 ELTS, 10.4.33, 11.5.20, 12.1.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/08/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-23501 affects TYPO3 content management systems across multiple versions including 8.7.49, 9.5.38, 10.4.33, 11.5.20, and 12.1.1, representing a critical improper authentication flaw that undermines the system's user access controls. This vulnerability stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the frontend login authentication process, specifically when user accounts are organized within different storage folders or partitions. The flaw allows attackers to potentially bypass the intended access restrictions that should prevent users from logging into accounts outside their designated storage partitions, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on TYPO3 for their web content management infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability lies in the authentication mechanism's failure to properly validate user credentials against the correct storage partition boundaries. When administrators configure frontend login restrictions to limit access to specific user groups organized within different storage folders, the system fails to enforce these boundaries correctly. This misconfiguration creates a scenario where an attacker with knowledge of valid credentials could potentially access accounts belonging to other partitions, effectively circumventing the intended multi-tenant or segmented user access controls that are fundamental to maintaining data isolation and security boundaries within web applications. The vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as CWE-287, which categorizes improper authentication flaws that allow unauthorized access to systems or resources.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses substantial risks to organizations utilizing TYPO3 systems, particularly those with complex user management structures or multi-tenant deployments. The attack vector requires that adversaries already possess valid username and password combinations, but the vulnerability essentially removes the protective barriers that should prevent cross-partition access attempts. This creates a scenario where even legitimate users who might have access to one partition could potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive data or functionalities belonging to other partitions within the same TYPO3 installation. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges, manipulate content, or access confidential information that should remain isolated within specific user groups or organizational units.
Organizations must prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability by upgrading to the patched versions mentioned in the advisory, specifically versions 8.7.49 ELTS, 9.5.38 ELTS, 10.4.33, 11.5.20, and 12.1.1. The mitigation strategy should also include comprehensive review of existing user access controls and authentication configurations to ensure proper partitioning and validation of user access rights. Security teams should implement additional monitoring controls to detect unusual login patterns or access attempts that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1110.003 for credential access and T1078.004 for valid accounts, emphasizing the need for robust authentication controls and proper access management practices. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as multi-factor authentication and regular security audits of user access configurations to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of their TYPO3 deployment.