CVE-2002-2302 in Shopfactory
Summary
by MITRE
3D3.Com ShopFactory 5.5 through 5.8 allows remote attackers to modify the prices in their shopping carts by modifying the price in a hidden form field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/12/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-2302 affects 3D3.Com ShopFactory versions 5.5 through 5.8, representing a critical security flaw in e-commerce cart functionality. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and improper session handling within the web application's shopping cart implementation. The vulnerability specifically targets the price field within hidden form elements that are typically used to maintain state information between web requests. Attackers can exploit this weakness by intercepting or manipulating the HTML form data that is transmitted between the client and server during shopping cart operations. The flaw enables unauthorized modification of product prices, potentially allowing malicious actors to manipulate transaction values and cause financial losses for the e-commerce platform.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-444, which describes improper handling of HTTP requests and responses in web applications. The vulnerability manifests when hidden form fields containing price values are not properly validated or sanitized on the server side before processing. These hidden fields are typically used to maintain the state of shopping cart items, including price information, but in this case, they are not adequately protected against modification. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it leverages the trust model inherent in web forms where client-side data is assumed to be valid and unmodified. This weakness represents a classic example of insufficient server-side validation, where the application fails to verify that data received from the client matches the expected values based on the actual product catalog and pricing structure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple price manipulation to encompass significant financial and reputational risks for affected organizations. An attacker could potentially increase product prices to arbitrary values, leading to revenue loss when customers unknowingly pay inflated amounts, or conversely, decrease prices to cause unauthorized discounts. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for more sophisticated attacks such as cross-site scripting attempts or session hijacking, as the same underlying architectural weakness that allows price manipulation may also affect other hidden form fields. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK framework's T1213 technique for Data from Information Repositories, where attackers can manipulate stored data through direct manipulation of application inputs. The long-term implications include potential customer trust erosion, regulatory compliance issues, and increased liability for financial discrepancies in transaction records.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-2302 should focus on implementing robust server-side validation and input sanitization for all form fields, particularly those that contain monetary values or critical business data. Organizations should implement proper session management techniques, including server-side session storage and validation of all transaction data against the actual product catalog. The implementation of cryptographic checksums or digital signatures for critical form fields would prevent unauthorized modifications while maintaining the integrity of shopping cart data. Additionally, organizations should deploy web application firewalls and input validation rules that can detect and block suspicious modifications to hidden form fields. Regular security testing including penetration testing and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The remediation process should also involve implementing proper access controls and ensuring that all user inputs are validated against predefined business rules rather than simply accepting client-provided values without verification.