CVE-2005-0443 in CubeCart
Summary
by MITRE
index.php in CubeCart 2.0.4 allows remote attackers to (1) obtain the full path for the web server or (2) conduct cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks via an invalid language parameter, which echoes the parameter in a PHP error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/04/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-0443 affects CubeCart 2.0.4 e-commerce software where the index.php script fails to properly validate user input when processing language parameters. This flaw manifests in two distinct security impacts that together create a significant risk for affected systems. The vulnerability stems from improper input sanitization and error handling mechanisms within the application's language selection functionality, where user-supplied parameters are directly incorporated into error messages without adequate validation or sanitization.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker supplies an invalid language parameter to the index.php script. The application processes this input without proper validation, causing the system to generate a PHP error message that includes the malformed parameter in its output. This error message exposure creates two primary attack vectors that can be exploited by remote attackers. The first vector allows for path disclosure attacks where the full server path is revealed through the error message, providing attackers with critical system information that can be used for further exploitation. The second vector enables cross-site scripting attacks, where malicious script code embedded within the language parameter can be executed in the context of a victim's browser when the error message is displayed.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for organizations running affected CubeCart installations. The path disclosure aspect directly violates security best practices by exposing sensitive server information that attackers can leverage for more sophisticated attacks, including directory traversal exploits and system reconnaissance. The XSS component amplifies this risk by potentially allowing attackers to execute malicious code in users' browsers, which could lead to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not need physical access to the system and can target the application from anywhere on the internet. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous for publicly accessible e-commerce platforms that handle sensitive customer data and financial transactions.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and CWE-79, which addresses cross-site scripting flaws. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1190, which covers exploit public-facing applications, and T1068, which involves exploit development for privilege escalation. Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through patching the CubeCart application to version 2.0.5 or later, which contains the necessary input validation fixes. Additional mitigations include implementing proper input sanitization at the application level, configuring web servers to suppress detailed error messages, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious parameter injection attempts. Security monitoring should focus on identifying unusual error message patterns and tracking potential exploitation attempts through log analysis. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and error handling in web applications, particularly in e-commerce systems where exposure of system information can significantly increase the attack surface and potential impact of subsequent exploits.