CVE-2005-2477 in Shopping Cart
Summary
by MITRE
shop_display_products.php in Naxtor Shopping Cart 1.0 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via a cat_id with a " " (single quote), which reveals the path in an error message, possibly due to an SQL injection vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/28/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-2477 affects Naxtor Shopping Cart version 1.0 and represents a critical security flaw in the shop_display_products.php script that enables remote attackers to extract sensitive system information. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and improper error handling mechanisms within the application's database interaction layer. The vulnerability manifests when a malicious actor submits a specially crafted cat_id parameter containing a single quote character, which triggers an error message that inadvertently exposes the server path structure to unauthorized users.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and specifically relates to CWE-89, SQL injection vulnerabilities. When the application processes the cat_id parameter containing a single quote, the input is not properly sanitized before being incorporated into SQL query construction. This allows attackers to manipulate the database query execution flow and potentially extract information from the underlying database system. The error message disclosure occurs because the application fails to implement proper exception handling or input sanitization, causing the database engine to return detailed error information that includes file paths and potentially other system-sensitive data.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations using the affected Naxtor Shopping Cart system. The exposure of server paths provides attackers with crucial reconnaissance information that can be leveraged for subsequent attacks, including directory traversal exploits and further system compromise attempts. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require local system access or credentials to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous for web applications. Additionally, the potential for SQL injection opens doors to more severe attacks such as data exfiltration, unauthorized database access, and privilege escalation within the application's database layer. The vulnerability represents a classic example of how poor input validation can lead to information disclosure and potentially more serious security breaches.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and proper error handling mechanisms. Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-supplied patches or upgrade to newer versions of the Naxtor Shopping Cart software that address this specific flaw. Input sanitization techniques including parameterized queries or prepared statements should be implemented to prevent SQL injection attacks from occurring in the first place. Additionally, error handling should be modified to prevent detailed system information from being exposed to end users, with generic error messages displayed instead of database-specific error information. The implementation of web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of protection, while regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to the principle of least privilege in web application development, as outlined in various cybersecurity frameworks including the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO 27001 standards.