CVE-2005-1968 in ProductCart
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in ProductCart Ecommerce before 2.7 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the error parameter to techErr.asp.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1968 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the ProductCart Ecommerce platform version 2.6 and earlier. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation. The flaw exists in the error handling mechanism of the techErr.asp script, where user-supplied input from the error parameter is not properly sanitized or validated before being rendered in the web response. This allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content directly into the application's error pages, creating a persistent vector for exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the lack of input validation and output encoding in the error handling routine. When the application encounters an error condition, it typically displays error messages to users through the techErr.asp page. The error parameter in the URL is directly incorporated into the response without proper sanitization, enabling attackers to craft malicious payloads that execute in the context of other users' browsers. This occurs because the web application fails to implement proper input validation mechanisms or output encoding that would prevent the execution of injected scripts. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it operates at the presentation layer where user input is processed and displayed, making it a prime target for session hijacking and data theft.
From an operational impact perspective, this XSS vulnerability creates significant security risks for e-commerce platforms using affected ProductCart versions. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute malicious scripts in victims' browsers, potentially stealing session cookies, performing unauthorized transactions, or redirecting users to malicious websites. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of user data, as well as the overall security posture of the e-commerce platform. Users who encounter error pages during their browsing experience become potential victims of this attack, with no indication that their browser is being compromised. The persistent nature of the vulnerability means that once exploited, attackers can maintain control over user sessions and access sensitive information without requiring additional authentication.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2005-1968 involves multiple layers of defense that align with established security practices. Organizations should immediately upgrade to ProductCart version 2.7 or later, which includes proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Additionally, implementing proper input sanitization techniques such as parameterized queries and HTML encoding for all user-supplied data helps prevent script injection. Security measures should include deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious payloads, implementing content security policies to restrict script execution, and conducting regular security audits of web applications. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper error handling design, ensuring that error messages do not inadvertently expose system information or allow arbitrary code execution. Organizations should follow the ATT&CK framework's guidance on web application security, particularly the techniques related to input validation and output encoding to prevent such vulnerabilities from being exploited in real-world scenarios.