CVE-2004-2638 in osCommerce
Summary
by MITRE
The Admin Access With Levels plugin in osCommerce 1.5.1 allows remote attackers to access files in the "admin/" directory by modifying the in_login parameter to a non-zero value.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2018
The CVE-2004-2638 vulnerability represents a critical access control flaw in the Admin Access With Levels plugin for osCommerce 1.5.1, a widely used e-commerce platform. This vulnerability stems from improper validation of user authentication parameters, specifically the in_login parameter that controls administrative access levels. The flaw allows remote attackers to bypass normal authentication mechanisms and gain unauthorized access to administrative functions within the admin/ directory of the osCommerce installation. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates entirely through parameter manipulation, requiring no prior authentication credentials or complex exploitation techniques.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits a lack of proper input validation and access control checks within the plugin's authentication logic. When the in_login parameter is modified to a non-zero value, the system incorrectly interprets this change as valid administrative credentials, effectively granting full administrative privileges to any remote attacker who can make HTTP requests to the affected system. This represents a classic case of insecure parameter handling and insufficient authorization validation, where the application fails to properly verify the legitimacy of the authentication state before granting access to protected resources. The vulnerability exists in the plugin's code where user input is directly processed without proper sanitization or verification against legitimate access levels, creating a path for privilege escalation through simple parameter manipulation.
The operational impact of CVE-2004-2638 extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as administrative privileges enable attackers to perform critical system modifications including but not limited to user account manipulation, product catalog changes, payment processing alterations, and database content modifications. This vulnerability can lead to complete system compromise, data theft, financial fraud, and service disruption for e-commerce businesses relying on osCommerce platforms. The remote nature of the attack means that attackers can exploit this vulnerability from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the server or knowledge of valid credentials, making it particularly attractive to automated exploitation tools. Organizations using affected versions of osCommerce face significant risk of unauthorized data access, modification, and potential complete system takeover, especially when the platform is not properly patched or when additional vulnerabilities exist within the broader application stack.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-2638 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected osCommerce installations, with administrators verifying that all plugins are updated to versions that properly validate authentication parameters and implement proper access controls. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization in software systems, and reflects patterns commonly seen in ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for phishing attacks that can leverage such access control flaws. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces, deploy web application firewalls to monitor for parameter manipulation attempts, and establish robust monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized access patterns. Additionally, implementing proper input validation, using parameterized queries, and conducting regular security audits of plugin installations can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced into the system. Regular security updates and vulnerability assessments should be part of ongoing security operations to ensure that all components of the e-commerce platform remain protected against known exploits.