CVE-2004-0062 in Fishcart
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in the rnd arithmetic rounding function for various versions of FishCart before 3.1 allows remote attackers to "cause negative totals" via an order with a large quantity.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/17/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-0062 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the FishCart e-commerce platform's arithmetic rounding function. This issue affects versions prior to 3.1 and stems from improper handling of integer values during mathematical operations, specifically within the random number generation arithmetic component. The flaw manifests when processing order quantities that exceed the maximum value that can be represented by the integer data type used in the system. When attackers submit orders with extremely large quantities, the arithmetic operations involved in calculating totals trigger integer overflow conditions that result in negative numerical values, thereby corrupting the transaction processing logic.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, which categorizes integer overflow conditions that can lead to unexpected behavior in software systems. The flaw operates through a classic integer arithmetic overflow scenario where the system's internal calculations exceed the maximum representable value for signed integers, causing wraparound behavior that produces negative results. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of arithmetic overflow issues that have been consistently documented in cybersecurity literature as particularly dangerous due to their potential for creating exploitable conditions in financial systems. The vulnerability specifically impacts the order processing module where quantities are multiplied against unit prices, and the resulting arithmetic operations fail to properly validate or handle potential overflow conditions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to e-commerce platforms using affected FishCart versions, as it allows remote attackers to manipulate transaction totals in ways that could lead to financial loss or system instability. The ability to generate negative totals through crafted order submissions creates opportunities for attackers to potentially exploit pricing discrepancies, manipulate inventory accounting, or cause system errors that could disrupt normal business operations. The remote nature of the attack means that malicious actors can exploit this vulnerability without requiring physical access to the system or direct authentication credentials. This type of vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and availability of the e-commerce platform's financial transaction processing capabilities, potentially leading to revenue loss and operational disruption.
The mitigation strategy for this vulnerability requires immediate application of the vendor-supplied patch or upgrade to FishCart version 3.1 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to properly handle integer overflow conditions in the arithmetic rounding functions. Organizations should implement input validation controls to limit the maximum order quantities that can be processed, ensuring that values remain within safe integer ranges before any mathematical operations are performed. Additionally, the system should incorporate proper error handling mechanisms that detect and reject transactions with suspiciously large quantities that could trigger overflow conditions. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual transaction patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and system administrators should implement regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar integer overflow conditions in other components of the e-commerce platform. The remediation approach should also include code review processes to identify and address similar issues in other arithmetic operations throughout the application, following established secure coding practices that prevent integer overflow conditions as outlined in the software security guidelines referenced in the OWASP Secure Coding Practices.