CVE-2025-59022 Overview
CVE-2025-59022 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability (CWE-862) affecting multiple versions of TYPO3 CMS. Backend users who had access to the recycler module could delete arbitrary data from any database table defined in the Table Configuration Array (TCA) - regardless of whether they had permission to that particular table. This vulnerability allows attackers to purge and destroy critical site data, effectively rendering the website unavailable.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers with recycler module access can delete arbitrary data from any TCA-defined database table, potentially causing complete data loss and website unavailability.
Affected Products
- TYPO3 CMS versions 10.0.0 through 10.4.54
- TYPO3 CMS versions 11.0.0 through 11.5.48
- TYPO3 CMS versions 12.0.0 through 12.4.40
- TYPO3 CMS versions 13.0.0 through 13.4.22
- TYPO3 CMS versions 14.0.0 through 14.0.1
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-01-13 - CVE-2025-59022 published to NVD
- 2026-01-13 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-59022
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability stems from a missing authorization check in the TYPO3 CMS recycler module. The recycler module is a backend utility designed to manage deleted records, allowing administrators to permanently remove or restore data. However, the implementation fails to properly verify whether the authenticated user has appropriate permissions for the specific database tables being manipulated.
The core issue is that the recycler module operates with elevated privileges when executing deletion operations against TCA-defined tables. While TYPO3's access control system normally restricts users to specific tables and fields based on their group permissions, the recycler module bypasses these restrictions. This means a user only needs access to the recycler module itself—not to the underlying data tables—to perform destructive operations.
The impact is severe: an attacker can systematically delete critical content including pages, content elements, user records, and system configuration data. This can result in complete website unavailability and significant data loss that may be difficult or impossible to recover without proper backups.
Root Cause
The root cause is CWE-862: Missing Authorization. The recycler module does not perform adequate authorization checks before allowing deletion operations on TCA-defined database tables. Instead of validating that the current backend user has explicit permissions to modify records in the target table, the module only checks for recycler module access rights, creating an authorization bypass.
Attack Vector
The attack requires network access and a valid backend user account with recycler module permissions. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability through the following mechanism:
- Authenticate to the TYPO3 backend with a user account that has recycler module access
- Access the recycler module interface
- Target database tables that the user would not normally have permission to modify
- Execute deletion operations against arbitrary records in those tables
The deletion operation is processed without validating table-level permissions, allowing the attacker to purge data from protected tables such as be_users, pages, tt_content, and other critical system tables.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-59022
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected or unauthorized deletions in the TYPO3 database recycler logs
- Missing critical records from TCA-defined tables without corresponding authorized admin actions
- Backend user activity logs showing recycler module access by users who should not have data deletion capabilities
- Sudden website unavailability correlated with backend user sessions
Detection Strategies
- Monitor TYPO3 backend logs for recycler module operations performed by non-administrative users
- Implement database audit logging to track DELETE operations on critical tables
- Review backend user group permissions and identify accounts with recycler module access but limited table permissions
- Correlate recycler module activity with expected administrative maintenance windows
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable and regularly review TYPO3 system logs for unusual backend activity patterns
- Configure alerts for bulk deletion operations in the recycler module
- Implement database-level auditing for critical TYPO3 tables (be_users, pages, tt_content, sys_*)
- Establish baseline metrics for normal recycler module usage to detect anomalies
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-59022
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade TYPO3 CMS to a patched version immediately
- Temporarily restrict recycler module access to only trusted administrator accounts
- Review and audit which backend users currently have recycler module permissions
- Ensure current database backups are available and verified for integrity
Patch Information
TYPO3 has released security patches addressing this vulnerability. Apply the appropriate update based on your installed version:
- For TYPO3 10.x: Update to version 10.4.55 or later
- For TYPO3 11.x: Update to version 11.5.49 or later
- For TYPO3 12.x: Update to version 12.4.41 or later
- For TYPO3 13.x: Update to version 13.4.23 or later
- For TYPO3 14.x: Update to version 14.0.2 or later
Refer to the TYPO3 Security Advisory for official guidance. The security fixes are implemented in the following commits:
Workarounds
- Remove recycler module access from all non-essential backend user groups until patching is complete
- Implement network-level restrictions to limit backend access to trusted IP addresses
- Configure Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to monitor and block suspicious recycler module requests
- Enable detailed logging for all backend module access to support incident investigation
# Example: Review and restrict backend user groups with recycler access
# In TYPO3 Backend: System > Backend Users > Backend User Groups
# Locate groups with 'recycler' module access and remove permission
# Or restrict to only the admin group until the patch is applied
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
