CVE-2000-1001 in Element Instantshop
Summary
by MITRE
add_2_basket.asp in Element InstantShop allows remote attackers to modify price information via the "price" hidden form variable.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2000-1001 affects Element InstantShop's add_2_basket.asp component, representing a critical server-side input validation flaw that enables remote attackers to manipulate pricing information within the e-commerce platform. This issue stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data, specifically targeting the "price" hidden form variable that is typically used to transmit product pricing details between client and server during shopping cart operations. The flaw resides in the web application's failure to properly validate or sanitize input parameters before processing them, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary values that alter the intended pricing behavior.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the hidden form field that contains price information, allowing attackers to submit modified price values that bypass normal validation checks. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of insecure input handling and can be classified as CWE-20, which describes "Improper Input Validation" in software development practices. The vulnerability enables attackers to potentially increase product prices beyond their intended values, manipulate transaction totals, or even create pricing inconsistencies that could lead to financial loss for the merchant. This represents a direct violation of data integrity principles and undermines the trust model essential for e-commerce transactions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple pricing manipulation to encompass broader security implications within the e-commerce ecosystem. Attackers could exploit this flaw to inflate prices of goods, potentially causing revenue loss or creating discrepancies in financial reporting. The vulnerability also poses risks to customer trust and platform integrity, as unauthorized price modifications could lead to disputes, chargebacks, or reputational damage. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability provides a straightforward method for financial gain without requiring complex exploitation techniques, making it particularly attractive for malicious actors. The attack vector operates through standard web browser interactions, requiring no specialized tools beyond basic web browsing capabilities, which increases the likelihood of successful exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the web application. The primary defense involves validating all input parameters against expected data types and ranges before processing them, particularly for monetary values and pricing information. Web application firewalls should be configured to monitor for suspicious input patterns and block requests containing malformed price values. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and input encoding techniques can prevent attackers from manipulating hidden form fields. The remediation approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213, which addresses data manipulation through web application vulnerabilities, and should incorporate defense-in-depth strategies including parameter validation, output encoding, and regular security assessments. Organizations should also implement logging and monitoring for pricing-related transactions to detect unauthorized modifications and maintain audit trails for forensic analysis.