CVE-2025-47940
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows TYPO3 administrator-level backend users without system maintainer privileges to escalate their privileges and gain system maintainer access. It affects TYPO3 installations starting from version 10.0.0 up to specific patched versions. Exploitation requires a valid administrator account.
💻 Affected Systems
- TYPO3 CMS
📦 What is this software?
Typo3 by Typo3
Typo3 by Typo3
Typo3 by Typo3
Typo3 by Typo3
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
A malicious administrator gains full system maintainer privileges, enabling complete control over the TYPO3 instance including code execution, data manipulation, and further system compromise.
Likely Case
Privileged administrator users escalate to system maintainer level, gaining unauthorized access to sensitive system functions and configurations.
If Mitigated
With proper access controls and monitoring, impact is limited to unauthorized privilege escalation that can be detected and contained.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires valid administrator credentials. The vulnerability is in the privilege escalation mechanism within TYPO3 backend.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 10.4.50 ELTS, 11.5.44 ELTS, 12.4.31 LTS, or 13.4.12 LTS
Vendor Advisory: https://typo3.org/security/advisory/typo3-core-sa-2025-016
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Identify your TYPO3 version. 2. Update to the appropriate patched version: 10.4.50 ELTS, 11.5.44 ELTS, 12.4.31 LTS, or 13.4.12 LTS. 3. Follow TYPO3 update procedures for your specific version.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict Administrator Access
allLimit the number of administrator accounts and implement strict access controls.
Monitor Administrator Activities
allImplement enhanced logging and monitoring for administrator-level user actions.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Temporarily disable or restrict administrator accounts that don't require system maintainer access.
- Implement additional authentication factors for administrator accounts and monitor for privilege escalation attempts.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check TYPO3 version in the backend under 'Admin Tools > System > Environment' or examine the typo3/sysext/core/Classes/Information/Typo3Version.php file.Check Version:
php -r "include 'typo3/sysext/core/Classes/Information/Typo3Version.php'; echo \TYPO3\CMS\Core\Information\Typo3Version::VERSION;"Verify Fix Applied:
Verify the TYPO3 version matches one of the patched versions: 10.4.50 ELTS, 11.5.44 ELTS, 12.4.31 LTS, or 13.4.12 LTS.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual privilege escalation attempts in TYPO3 backend logs
- Administrator users gaining system maintainer privileges unexpectedly
- Changes to user permissions or roles from administrator accounts
Network Indicators:
- Unusual backend administrative activity patterns
- Multiple privilege change requests from single administrator accounts
SIEM Query:
source="typo3.log" AND ("privilege escalation" OR "system maintainer" OR "user permission change")