CVE-2005-2220 in Dragonfly Commerce
Summary
by MITRE
** DISPUTED ** Dragonfly Commerce allows remote attackers to change a product price by modifying the x_DragonflyCartProductPrice hidden field to (1) dc_Categorieslist.asp, (2) dc_Categoriesview.asp, (3) dc_productslist.asp, and (4) dc_productslist_Clearance.asp. NOTE: the vendor has disputed this issue, saying that "Dragonfly Commerce does not allow for editing prices nor does it allow for viewing information about clients stored in the database except by the store owner and authorized staff as appointed in the store administration." However, SecurityTracker claims that they have been able to confirm the problem.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/08/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-2220 represents a critical access control flaw within the Dragonfly Commerce platform that allows unauthorized remote attackers to manipulate product pricing information. This issue affects multiple core pages including dc_Categorieslist.asp, dc_Categoriesview.asp, dc_productslist.asp, and dc_productslist_Clearance.asp, demonstrating a widespread weakness in the application's input validation and parameter handling mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically targets the x_DragonflyCartProductPrice hidden field, which should normally be protected from client-side modification but can be exploited to alter pricing data without proper authorization.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability constitutes a classic example of insecure direct object reference and insufficient input validation, which fall under CWE-284 for improper access control and CWE-20 for improper input validation. The flaw occurs because the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied data that should remain immutable to end users. When attackers modify the hidden field value, they bypass the normal authorization checks that should prevent unauthorized price modifications, effectively allowing them to manipulate the commerce system's pricing structure. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the application layer and can be exploited without requiring elevated privileges or complex attack vectors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple price manipulation, as it represents a fundamental breakdown in the e-commerce platform's security model. An attacker could potentially increase prices to arbitrary amounts, create false discounts, or even set prices to negative values that could lead to financial losses for the business. The affected pages suggest that this vulnerability impacts both category browsing and product listing functionality, meaning the attack surface is broad and could affect various aspects of the online store's commercial operations. This flaw undermines the integrity of the pricing system and could lead to significant financial damage, customer confusion, and potential legal issues related to unauthorized price modifications.
The vendor's disputed stance regarding this vulnerability is problematic from a security perspective, as it suggests either inadequate testing or a misunderstanding of the security implications. SecurityTracker's confirmation of the issue indicates that the vulnerability is real and exploitable, despite the vendor's claims. This situation highlights the importance of independent security verification and the potential for vendors to dismiss legitimate security concerns. The discrepancy between vendor and security researcher assessments is common in the industry and underscores the need for organizations to independently validate security claims and maintain their own security testing programs. Organizations using Dragonfly Commerce should treat this vulnerability as confirmed and implement appropriate mitigations regardless of the vendor's position.
Effective mitigation strategies should include implementing proper input validation and sanitization of all user-supplied data, particularly hidden form fields that should not be modified by end users. The application should implement server-side validation that checks the integrity of pricing data and ensures that only authorized personnel can modify product prices. Additional protections should include implementing proper access controls and authentication checks before allowing any pricing modifications, as well as logging all price change activities for audit purposes. The solution aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and credential access, as the vulnerability effectively allows unauthorized users to gain elevated privileges within the commerce system through manipulation of application parameters. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and input validation controls to prevent modification of hidden fields and other client-side parameters that should remain protected.