SQL injection vulnerability in the CMS Poll system (cms_poll) extension before 0.1.1 for TYPO3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors.
A critical SQL injection vulnerability exists in the CMS Poll system extension for TYPO3, allowing remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands and potentially gain complete control of the affected web server. This vulnerability, present in versions prior to 0.1.1, could lead to data breaches, system compromise, and denial-of-service. The extended modification date suggests continued relevance and potential for exploitation.
Step 1: Payload Delivery: The attacker crafts a malicious HTTP request, likely targeting a specific URL associated with the CMS Poll system extension. The request includes a payload designed to inject SQL code into a parameter used in a database query (e.g., a parameter related to poll ID, vote selection, or user input).
Step 2: Input Handling: The vulnerable extension receives the HTTP request and processes the input parameters. Due to the lack of proper input validation, the malicious SQL payload is not filtered or sanitized.
Step 3: Query Construction: The extension constructs an SQL query using the unsanitized user input. The attacker's injected SQL code is directly incorporated into the query.
Step 4: Database Execution: The database server executes the maliciously crafted SQL query. The injected SQL code is interpreted and executed by the database engine.
Step 5: Exploitation: The attacker leverages the executed SQL code to achieve their objectives, which could include data exfiltration, authentication bypass, data modification, or remote code execution (if the database user has sufficient privileges and the database server is configured to allow it).
The root cause of CVE-2008-5798 lies in the lack of proper input validation and sanitization within the CMS Poll system extension's code. Specifically, the extension fails to adequately filter user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL queries. This allows attackers to inject malicious SQL code through crafted HTTP requests, manipulating the database queries to execute arbitrary commands. The flaw likely resides in the handling of user-provided data related to poll creation, voting, or result display, where the extension directly concatenates user input with SQL statements without sanitization. This leads to a classic SQL injection vulnerability, enabling attackers to bypass authentication, extract sensitive data, modify database contents, or even execute operating system commands if the database user has sufficient privileges.