CVE-2023-38499 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

This article provides detailed information about CVE-2023-38499, an information disclosure vulnerability in TYPO3 that allows unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Understanding CVE-2023-38499

This section explores the vulnerability, its impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2023-38499?

CVE-2023-38499 is an information disclosure vulnerability in TYPO3, an open-source PHP-based web content management system. It allows unauthorized actors to access sensitive information by manipulating HTTP query parameters.

The Impact of CVE-2023-38499

The vulnerability affects TYPO3 versions prior to 9.5.42 ELTS, 10.4.39 ELTS, 11.5.30, and 12.4.4, exposing sensitive data on multi-site scenarios.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-38499

This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability, affected systems, and exploitation mechanisms.

Vulnerability Description

In TYPO3 versions prior to the mentioned ELTS versions, enumerating specific HTTP query parameters allowed unauthorized access to content on the website frontend in multi-site setups.

Affected Systems and Versions

TYPO3 versions >= 9.4.0 and < 9.5.42, >= 10.0.0 and < 10.4.39, >= 11.0.0 and < 11.5.30, >= 12.0.0 and < 12.4.4 are vulnerable to this information disclosure issue.

Exploitation Mechanism

By manipulating the

id

and

L

query parameters in HTTP requests, attackers could access out-of-scope content on TYPO3 websites.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section outlines immediate steps to secure affected systems and advises on long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are urged to update TYPO3 to versions 9.5.42 ELTS, 10.4.39 ELTS, 11.5.30, or 12.4.4 to patch the vulnerability and prevent information disclosure.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing strict input validation and access controls in web applications can help prevent similar information disclosure vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Regularly apply security patches and updates provided by TYPO3 to address known vulnerabilities and enhance the security posture of the system.