CVE-2003-1219 in osCommerce
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the tep_href_link function in html_output.php for osCommerce before 2.2-MS3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the osCsid parameter.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/06/2025
The CVE-2003-1219 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the osCommerce e-commerce platform, specifically within the tep_href_link function located in the html_output.php file. This vulnerability affects osCommerce versions prior to 2.2-MS3 and creates a significant security risk by allowing remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code through the osCsid parameter. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the way the tep_href_link function processes URL generation and parameter handling within the osCommerce framework. When the osCsid parameter is passed through user input without proper sanitization, the system fails to encode special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This creates an environment where attackers can craft malicious URLs containing script tags or other harmful code that executes in the context of other users' browsers when they access the affected pages. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications.
Operationally, this vulnerability enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, defacement of web pages, data theft from authenticated users, and redirection to malicious sites. An attacker could inject persistent XSS payloads that would execute whenever legitimate users browse the affected osCommerce site, potentially compromising user sessions and stealing sensitive information. The impact extends beyond simple script injection as it can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks such as credential harvesting, browser fingerprinting, and creating backdoor access points within the compromised environment.
The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental weakness in the application's security architecture related to input validation and output encoding practices. It highlights the importance of implementing proper security controls for all user-supplied inputs and ensuring that dynamic content generation properly sanitizes data to prevent malicious code execution. Organizations using affected osCommerce versions should immediately apply the patch released with osCommerce 2.2-MS3 which addresses this specific XSS vulnerability. Additionally, implementing proper content security policies, input validation frameworks, and regular security audits would provide additional protection against similar vulnerabilities in the future.
This vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1566 for phishing with malicious links and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage. The remediation process involves not only patching the specific function but also establishing comprehensive security practices for web application development including proper HTML encoding, input validation, and security testing protocols. The incident underscores the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing robust security controls to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities in widely-used web applications.