CVE-2005-2138 in eCommerce
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in Comdev eCommerce 3.0 and 3.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via Javascript in the onMouseOver event of an "A" tag in a review message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2018
The CVE-2005-2138 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw that emerged in Comdev eCommerce versions 3.0 and 3.1, specifically within the index.php script. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly filter user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code through the onMouseOver event handler of anchor tags within review messages, creating a persistent security risk that affects all users interacting with the affected e-commerce platform.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious review message containing an anchor tag with a JavaScript onMouseOver event handler. When other users browse the product reviews page, the malicious code executes in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 for credential access through web-based attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates a critical failure in output encoding and input validation practices that are fundamental to secure web application development.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-2138 extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with a vector for more sophisticated attacks including session manipulation and data exfiltration. Users who view affected product reviews become unwitting participants in the attack chain, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for e-commerce platforms where user-generated content is prevalent. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of user sessions, potentially allowing attackers to impersonate legitimate users and access sensitive information. This type of attack can severely damage the reputation of the affected e-commerce platform and result in financial losses due to compromised customer data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should implement strict validation of all user-supplied content, particularly in areas where HTML or JavaScript code might be rendered. The recommended approach includes sanitizing all input data before storage and applying appropriate HTML escaping when rendering user-generated content in web pages. Additionally, implementing a content security policy that restricts script execution and using frameworks with built-in XSS protection mechanisms can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application, ensuring comprehensive protection against cross-site scripting attacks that align with industry best practices established by OWASP and NIST guidelines.