CVE-2005-0908 in Valdersoft Shopping Cart
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Valdersoft Shopping Cart 3.0 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) the lang parameter to index.php or (2) the searchTopCategoryID parameter to search_result.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/21/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0908 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness in Valdersoft Shopping Cart version 3.0, a web application designed for e-commerce operations. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's core processing functions, specifically affecting two distinct parameter handling scenarios that expose the system to malicious code injection attacks. The flaw exists in the application's user interface processing logic where user-supplied parameters are directly incorporated into dynamic web content without proper security filtering or encoding.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through two primary attack vectors that exploit the application's failure to validate or sanitize user input before rendering it within web pages. The first vector targets the lang parameter in the index.php file, while the second targets the searchTopCategoryID parameter in search_result.php. Both scenarios demonstrate a classic lack of input sanitization that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute within the context of other users' browsers. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in software applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter execution through web-based attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary code within victim browsers and potentially escalate privileges. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, modify web page content, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The attack requires minimal sophistication and can be executed through simple HTTP requests that include malicious script payloads in the affected parameters, making it particularly dangerous for e-commerce environments where user trust and data security are paramount. The vulnerability affects the application's core functionality and user experience, potentially compromising the entire shopping cart system's integrity.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The recommended approach includes sanitizing all user-supplied input parameters through strict validation rules, implementing proper HTML entity encoding for dynamic content rendering, and employing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests, conducting regular security assessments of web applications, and ensuring all third-party components receive timely security updates. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in web applications and aligns with security best practices outlined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines for preventing injection attacks.