CVE-2024-45232 in Powermail EExtension
Summary
by MITRE • 08/29/2024
An issue was discovered in powermail extension through 12.3.5 for TYPO3. It fails to validate the mail parameter of the confirmationAction, resulting in Insecure Direct Object Reference (IDOR). An unauthenticated attacker can use this to display the user-submitted data of all forms persisted by the extension. This can only be exploited when the extension is configured to save submitted form data to the database (plugin.tx_powermail.settings.db.enable=1), which however is the default setting of the extension. The fixed versions are 7.5.0, 8.5.0, 10.9.0, and 12.4.0
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/31/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-45232 affects the powermail extension for TYPO3 systems, specifically versions through 12.3.5, presenting a critical Insecure Direct Object Reference (IDOR) flaw that compromises user data confidentiality. This vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of the mail parameter within the confirmationAction method, allowing unauthorized access to sensitive form submissions that have been stored in the database. The security flaw represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a fundamental failure in access control mechanisms within the extension's codebase.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the powermail extension is configured to persist form submissions to the database through the plugin.tx_powermail.settings.db.enable=1 parameter, which serves as the default configuration setting. This means that by default, all form data submitted through affected TYPO3 installations becomes vulnerable to unauthorized access. The confirmationAction method fails to properly authenticate or authorize requests attempting to access specific mail records, creating a direct object reference that allows attackers to manipulate the mail parameter and retrieve data belonging to other users. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-284, which specifically addresses inadequate access control mechanisms, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 related to data from information repositories.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it enables comprehensive data harvesting of all form submissions that have been stored in the database. An unauthenticated attacker can systematically enumerate and access all submitted form data without requiring any credentials or privileged access, potentially exposing sensitive personal information, business data, or confidential communications that users intended to keep private. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations relying on TYPO3 for web content management where form submissions contain personal identifiable information, financial data, or other sensitive content. The default configuration setting means that organizations may unknowingly leave their systems vulnerable without implementing additional security measures or configuration changes.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal technical expertise and can be accomplished through simple parameter manipulation techniques, making it particularly dangerous in environments where such systems are widely deployed. Attackers can leverage automated tools to systematically access form data, potentially leading to identity theft, financial fraud, or corporate espionage. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple major version lines indicates a systemic issue in the extension's security implementation that required significant code rework to resolve. Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to the fixed versions 7.5.0, 8.5.0, 10.9.0, or 12.4.0, or applying equivalent patches that properly validate the mail parameter in the confirmationAction method. Additionally, security monitoring should be implemented to detect unauthorized access attempts to form data repositories, and organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their TYPO3 installations to identify any other potential vulnerabilities in third-party extensions.