# CVE-2008-5644: TYPO3 Cross-site Scripting vulnerability in the file backend module

> Remote attackers can inject arbitrary web script or HTML into the TYPO3 file backend module, potentially compromising user sessions.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.3 (`AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not stated
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 17 Dec 2008
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-733v-22mg-7f8w

## What is CVE-2008-5644?

CVE-2008-5644 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Typo3 Typo3, published on 17 Dec 2008. It can be exploited over the network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the file backend module in TYPO3 4.2.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unknown vectors.

Weakness: CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2008-5644?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including typo3/cms-backend. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `typo3/cms-backend` | Packagist | From 4.2.2 | 4.2.3 |
| `typo3/cms-backend` | Packagist | From 4.2.2 | 4.2.3 |

Products: Typo3 Typo3.

## How do I fix CVE-2008-5644?

Upgrade typo3/cms-backend to 4.2.3 or later.

## Is CVE-2008-5644 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2008-5644 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Typo3 Typo3

- [CVE-2009-0258](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-0258/): Indexed Search Engine for TYPO3 Command Execution via Metacharacter Injection (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2011-3583](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-3583/): Typo3 SQL injection due to faulty prepared statements (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2011-4628](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-4628/): Typo3 Authentication Bypass (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-24814](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-24814/): Persisted Cross-Site Scripting in Frontend Rendering in typo3 (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2021-41113](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-41113/): Cross-Site-Request-Forgery in Backend URI Handling in Typo3 (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2008-5644 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2008-5644 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Typo3 Typo3, published on 17 Dec 2008. It can be exploited over the network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2008-5644 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- typo3/cms-backend (Packagist): affected from 4.2.2; fixed in 4.2.3
- typo3/cms-backend (Packagist): affected from 4.2.2; fixed in 4.2.3

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-5644/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-5644/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2008-5644
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-5644
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2008-5644

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-5644/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.