CVE-2005-0537 in Free Shopping Cart
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in page.php for iGeneric (iG) Shop 1.2 may allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL statements via the (1) cats, (2) l_price, or (3) u_price parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/21/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0537 affects the iGeneric Shop 1.2 web application, specifically targeting the page.php script which handles product category and pricing queries. This represents a classic SQL injection flaw that exploits improper input validation mechanisms within the application's database interaction layer. The vulnerability manifests through three distinct parameter vectors including cats, l_price, and u_price which are all susceptible to malicious SQL payload injection. The issue stems from the application's failure to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL query structures, creating an exploitable condition that allows unauthorized database access.
From a technical perspective this vulnerability operates at the application layer where user input directly influences database query construction without adequate security controls. The cats parameter likely handles category filtering, while l_price and u_price manage price range queries, all of which accept user-provided values that are concatenated directly into SQL statements without proper sanitization. This pattern of insecure database interaction aligns with CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection vulnerabilities as a critical weakness in application security. The vulnerability enables attackers to manipulate database queries through specially crafted input that can bypass authentication, extract sensitive data, modify database contents, or even execute operating system commands depending on the underlying database system's capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides remote attackers with the capability to perform unauthorized database operations without requiring authentication. Attackers can exploit this flaw to extract confidential information such as user credentials, customer data, product inventories, and financial records stored within the application's database. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from any location without requiring physical access to the system or network. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1190 for exploitation of remote services and T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation. The attack chain typically involves crafting malicious input payloads that, when processed by the vulnerable page.php script, result in unintended SQL command execution.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary fix involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application's database interaction points. All user-supplied parameters including cats, l_price, and u_price must undergo strict sanitization before being incorporated into database operations. The implementation of prepared statements or parameterized queries should replace direct string concatenation methods used in SQL construction. Additionally, input length restrictions, whitelist validation for acceptable parameter values, and proper error handling should be implemented to prevent information leakage. Security headers, web application firewalls, and regular security assessments should complement these technical controls. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring and access controls to limit potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and secure coding practices in preventing data breaches and maintaining system integrity.