CVE-2000-1223 in Quikstore
Summary
by MITRE
quikstore.cgi in Quikstore Shopping Cart allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in the URL portion of an HTTP GET request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2000-1223 resides within the quikstore.cgi component of the Quikstore Shopping Cart web application, representing a critical command injection flaw that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary system commands on the affected server. This vulnerability manifests through the improper handling of user-supplied input within the URL portion of HTTP GET requests, specifically targeting the quikstore.cgi script that processes shopping cart functionality. The flaw stems from the application's failure to adequately sanitize or validate input parameters before incorporating them into system command executions, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject shell metacharacters that are subsequently interpreted and executed by the underlying operating system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a pattern where attackers craft malicious HTTP GET requests containing shell metacharacters such as semicolons, ampersands, or backticks within the URL parameters that are processed by the quikstore.cgi script. When the web application processes these parameters without proper input validation, the shell metacharacters are interpreted by the system shell, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the web server process. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-77, which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in a command inside a software component, and specifically aligns with the broader category of command injection vulnerabilities that are among the most dangerous classes of web application flaws.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to organizations using the Quikstore Shopping Cart system, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise, data breaches, and unauthorized access to sensitive customer information. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain shell access to the server, potentially escalating privileges to execute system-level commands, access databases containing customer credit card information, or deploy additional malware. The impact extends beyond immediate command execution to include potential persistence mechanisms, data exfiltration, and the ability to use the compromised server as a launch point for further attacks against internal networks. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.001 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: Shell Script) and T1078 (Valid Accounts) as attackers can establish persistent access through the compromised web application.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2000-1223 should prioritize immediate patching of the Quikstore Shopping Cart application to address the input validation deficiencies in the quikstore.cgi script. Organizations must implement proper input sanitization and validation techniques, including parameterized queries and strict input filtering to prevent shell metacharacters from being processed as commands. Network-level defenses such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems should be configured to monitor for suspicious URL patterns containing shell metacharacters. Additionally, system administrators should conduct comprehensive security assessments of all web applications to identify similar vulnerabilities, implement principle of least privilege for web server accounts, and establish robust monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect unauthorized command execution attempts. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of secure coding practices and input validation in preventing command injection attacks that can lead to complete system compromise.