CVE-2024-45233 in Powermail Frontend Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/29/2024
An issue was discovered in powermail extension through 12.3.5 for TYPO3. Several actions in the OutputController can directly be called, due to missing or insufficiently implemented access checks, resulting in Broken Access Control. Depending on the configuration of the Powermail Frontend plugins, an unauthenticated attacker can exploit this to edit, update, delete, or export data of persisted forms. This can only be exploited when the Powermail Frontend plugins are used. 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-2024-45233 represents a critical broken access control flaw within the powermail extension for TYPO3 platforms. This security weakness affects versions through 12.3.5 and stems from insufficient access control mechanisms implemented in the OutputController component. The flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to directly invoke several actions that should typically be restricted to authorized users, creating a significant security risk for TYPO3 installations using this extension. The vulnerability specifically impacts the frontend plugin configurations where the powermail extension is actively deployed, making it particularly concerning for websites that rely on user form submissions and data processing.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through missing or inadequately enforced authentication checks within the OutputController's action methods. When powermail frontend plugins are configured and active, attackers can exploit the absence of proper access validation to perform unauthorized operations on form data. This includes capabilities to edit, update, delete, or export persisted form submissions without proper authentication. The flaw essentially bypasses the intended authorization controls that should prevent unauthorized modification of form data, creating a direct pathway for data manipulation and potential information disclosure. The vulnerability's exploitation requires the presence of active frontend plugins, meaning that installations without these components remain unaffected, but those utilizing them face immediate security risk.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data integrity concerns to encompass potential data loss, unauthorized modifications, and information disclosure. An attacker could potentially access sensitive form data submitted by users, modify existing submissions, delete critical information, or export complete datasets for malicious purposes. This breach of access control can compromise the confidentiality and integrity of user-submitted information, particularly in scenarios where the forms collect personal data, financial information, or other sensitive content. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the powermail extension and can undermine the trust users place in the website's data handling capabilities, potentially leading to regulatory compliance issues and reputational damage.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately upgrade to the fixed versions 7.5.0, 8.5.0, 10.9.0, or 12.4.0 to remediate the broken access control issue. The fix addresses the missing authentication checks in the OutputController actions and ensures proper access validation before allowing any form data manipulation operations. Security teams should conduct thorough assessments of their TYPO3 installations to identify all instances of the powermail extension and verify that the appropriate version is deployed. Additionally, administrators should review the configuration of frontend plugins to ensure that only authorized users have access to form submission and management functionalities. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege that should govern all access control mechanisms. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation technique, where an attacker gains unauthorized access to resources that should be restricted, making it a critical concern for organizations maintaining web applications with user data collection capabilities.