CVE-2000-0103 in SmartCart
Summary
by MITRE
The SmartCart shopping cart application allows remote users to modify sensitive purchase information via hidden form fields.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2000-0103 affects the SmartCart shopping cart application, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to manipulate sensitive purchase information through manipulation of hidden form fields. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of input validation and data integrity issues, where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user inputs received through web forms. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental weakness in the application's security architecture, specifically in how it handles form field data and maintains the integrity of purchase transactions.
This vulnerability operates through a classic injection attack vector where attackers can modify hidden form fields that typically contain sensitive data such as product prices, quantities, or customer information. The application's insufficient validation mechanisms allow these modifications to be accepted without proper verification, enabling unauthorized users to alter transaction details. The attack leverages the trust model between client and server, where hidden fields are expected to remain unchanged by users but are actually accessible and modifiable through client-side inspection tools. This represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates poor input sanitization practices. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059.008 for script injection and T1566 for social engineering attacks that exploit form manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it directly compromises the integrity of financial transactions within the shopping cart system. Attackers can potentially manipulate purchase prices, quantities, or customer details to gain unauthorized financial benefits, leading to direct monetary losses for the business and potential legal ramifications. The vulnerability also creates risks for customer data protection, as sensitive purchase information could be altered or accessed by unauthorized parties. Organizations using this application face significant exposure to fraud, revenue loss, and potential regulatory violations under data protection standards. The ease of exploitation makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it requires minimal technical skill to execute, potentially affecting a large number of users and transactions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate security flaw and broader architectural weaknesses in the application's data handling processes. The primary remediation involves implementing robust input validation and sanitization mechanisms that verify all form field data against expected values and formats. Applications should employ server-side validation that cannot be bypassed through client-side modifications, ensuring that all transaction data is authenticated and authorized before processing. Implementing proper session management and access controls will help prevent unauthorized modifications to purchase information. Organizations should also consider implementing cryptographic measures such as digital signatures or message authentication codes to ensure data integrity. The solution should include comprehensive logging and monitoring of transaction modifications to detect and respond to unauthorized activities. Security patches should be deployed immediately, and the application architecture should be reviewed to prevent similar vulnerabilities in other components. This vulnerability highlights the importance of defense in depth strategies and proper security testing throughout the software development lifecycle, particularly in e-commerce applications where financial data integrity is paramount.