CVE-2000-0922 in Web Shopper
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in Bytes Interactive Web Shopper shopping cart program (shopper.cgi) 2.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) attack on the newpage parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2000-0922 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the Bytes Interactive Web Shopper shopping cart application version 2.0 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically affects the shopper.cgi script which processes user input through the newpage parameter, creating an opportunity for remote attackers to access arbitrary files on the web server. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly filter or reject malicious path traversal sequences. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting specially formatted requests containing .. (dot dot) sequences in the newpage parameter, which allows them to navigate outside the intended directory structure and access files that should remain restricted.
This directory traversal vulnerability maps directly to CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The technical implementation of this flaw demonstrates a classic lack of input validation where the application directly incorporates user-supplied data into file system operations without proper sanitization. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be classified under the ATT&CK technique T1083, which covers directory and file permissions enumeration, as attackers can systematically explore the file system to discover sensitive information. The exploitation mechanism relies on the web server's inability to properly resolve path traversal sequences, allowing attackers to bypass normal access controls and potentially gain access to configuration files, database credentials, source code, or other sensitive data stored on the server.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges and potentially compromise the entire web application infrastructure. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to access critical system files, including but not limited to password files, database connection strings, application configuration files, and potentially even system-level files that contain sensitive operational data. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or local network privileges to carry out attacks, making it particularly dangerous in publicly accessible web environments. This weakness creates a significant risk for e-commerce applications that handle sensitive customer data, payment information, and business-critical operational files that could be exposed through such attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar issues. The primary fix involves implementing proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms that reject or filter out path traversal sequences from user input before processing. This includes implementing strict parameter validation for the newpage parameter to ensure that it only accepts expected values and rejects any sequences containing .. or similar traversal patterns. Organizations should also implement proper access controls and privilege separation to ensure that web applications run with minimal required permissions, limiting the potential damage from successful exploitation. Additionally, application developers should adopt secure coding practices including the use of allowlists for acceptable file paths, proper error handling to prevent information leakage, and regular security code reviews to identify similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding guidelines and implementing defense-in-depth strategies, as the issue could have been prevented through proper input validation and secure application design principles. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious path traversal attempts and provide additional layers of protection against such attacks.