CVE-2004-0675 in Cart32 Shopping Cart
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in (1) cart32.exe or (2) c32web.exe in Cart32 shopping cart allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary web script via the cart32 parameter to a GetLatestBuilds command.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/13/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-0675 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in Cart32 shopping cart software components, specifically affecting cart32.exe and c32web.exe executables. This vulnerability resides in the GetLatestBuilds command functionality where the cart32 parameter is not properly sanitized or validated before being processed and returned to web clients. The flaw enables remote attackers to inject malicious script code into web applications that utilize these Cart32 components, creating a pathway for unauthorized code execution within the context of victim users' browsers.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting as a code injection flaw where untrusted data is directly incorporated into web pages without proper validation or encoding. The vulnerability occurs because the Cart32 software fails to implement adequate input sanitization measures for the cart32 parameter, allowing malicious actors to craft specially formatted requests that include script payloads. When legitimate users navigate to pages that process this vulnerable parameter, their browsers execute the injected malicious code, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites.
Operationally, this vulnerability poses significant risks to e-commerce platforms utilizing Cart32 software, as it can be exploited by attackers to compromise user sessions and steal sensitive information including login credentials, personal data, and payment information. The remote exploitation capability means attackers can target vulnerable systems without requiring physical access or local network presence, making the attack surface particularly broad. Users who interact with web pages containing the vulnerable cart32 parameter become unwitting participants in executing malicious code, creating a persistent threat vector that can be leveraged for ongoing attacks against the platform and its users. The impact extends beyond individual user compromise to potential system-wide security degradation and loss of customer trust in the affected e-commerce infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate implementation of input validation and output encoding measures for all parameters processed by the Cart32 software components. Organizations should apply the vendor-provided security patches or updates as soon as they become available, while also implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script injection attempts. Additionally, regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the web application stack. The remediation approach should follow established security frameworks such as those recommended by the OWASP Top Ten project, which emphasizes proper input validation and output encoding as fundamental defenses against XSS attacks. Network segmentation and monitoring systems should also be enhanced to detect anomalous traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts against this vulnerability, ensuring comprehensive protection against both current and potential future variants of similar cross-site scripting flaws.