CVE-2004-2174 in Productcart
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Custva.asp in EarlyImpact ProductCart allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary Javascript via the redirectUrl parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2174 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the EarlyImpact ProductCart e-commerce platform, specifically affecting the Custva.asp component. This vulnerability resides in the handling of user-supplied input through the redirectUrl parameter, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary javascript code within the context of victim browsers. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental failure in input validation and output encoding practices that have been recognized as critical security weaknesses since the early days of web application development. This type of vulnerability directly violates the core principles of secure web application design and represents one of the most prevalent threats in web security landscapes.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability operates through the improper sanitization of the redirectUrl parameter within the Custva.asp script. When user input is directly incorporated into web page responses without adequate validation or encoding, attackers can inject malicious javascript payloads that execute in the victim's browser context. The vulnerability specifically targets the redirectUrl parameter, which likely serves to redirect users after authentication or other operations within the shopping cart system. This parameter accepts user-supplied data that flows directly into the HTTP response without proper sanitization, creating an environment where javascript code can be executed in the context of legitimate user sessions. The flaw aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes improper neutralization of input during web page generation as a primary cause of XSS vulnerabilities, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege in web application security.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it provides attackers with the capability to manipulate user experiences and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. A successful exploitation could allow attackers to redirect users to malicious sites, steal session cookies, or inject additional malicious content that could compromise user accounts and the broader system. The vulnerability affects the integrity of the web application by enabling unauthorized code execution, which can lead to complete compromise of user sessions and potential escalation to more severe attacks. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability represents a low-effort, high-impact vector that can be exploited through simple parameter manipulation, making it particularly dangerous in environments where user interaction with the shopping cart system is frequent. The attack surface is further expanded due to the nature of e-commerce platforms, which often handle sensitive personal and financial information, creating additional risks for data breaches and fraud.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should encompass multiple layers of protection following established security frameworks and best practices. The primary defense mechanism involves implementing proper input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in redirect operations. This approach aligns with the ATT&CK framework's recommendations for preventing web application attacks through proper input sanitization and output encoding techniques. Organizations should implement strict parameter validation that rejects or sanitizes potentially malicious input before it is processed or rendered in web responses. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers and using proper URL encoding techniques can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. The solution must address the root cause by ensuring that all parameters passed to the redirectUrl functionality undergo comprehensive sanitization, including the removal or encoding of potentially dangerous characters and javascript patterns. Regular security testing and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the web application, as this represents a systemic security issue that may exist in other parts of the system.