CVE-2005-2953 in MIVA Merchant
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in merchant.mvc in MIVA Merchant 5 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the Customer_Login parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/16/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-2953 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the MIVA Merchant 5 e-commerce platform, specifically affecting the merchant.mvc component. This security weakness enables remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code through manipulation of the Customer_Login parameter, creating a significant risk for online retailers and their customers. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the application's authentication handling mechanism, where user-supplied data is not properly sanitized before being processed or displayed.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability occurs when the application fails to validate or escape special characters in the Customer_Login parameter, allowing attackers to inject malicious payloads that can be executed in the context of other users' browsers. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in software applications. The flaw creates a persistent security risk where an attacker can craft a malicious URL containing script code that, when executed by a victim's browser, can steal session cookies, redirect users to fraudulent sites, or perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in e-commerce environments where customer authentication and session management are critical components of the security architecture.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can lead to complete session hijacking and unauthorized access to customer accounts. Attackers can exploit this weakness to capture sensitive information including login credentials, personal data, and financial details stored within the compromised sessions. The vulnerability affects the core authentication functionality of MIVA Merchant 5, potentially allowing attackers to impersonate legitimate users and gain access to administrative functions or customer data repositories. This risk is amplified by the fact that the vulnerability exists in the customer login functionality, which represents a primary entry point for user interaction with the e-commerce platform. The attack vector can be delivered through various means including phishing emails, compromised website links, or social engineering campaigns that direct users to malicious URLs containing the crafted XSS payloads.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-2953 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's codebase. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user inputs, particularly those used in authentication flows, by removing or escaping special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or script tags. Organizations should implement proper content security policies that restrict script execution and utilize frameworks that automatically escape output based on context. Additionally, the application should be updated to a patched version of MIVA Merchant 5 that addresses this specific vulnerability, as the original software version likely contains multiple other security weaknesses. Security measures should also include monitoring for suspicious user behavior and implementing multi-factor authentication to reduce the impact of session hijacking attempts. The remediation process should follow established security frameworks such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and should incorporate regular security testing including dynamic application security testing and manual code review processes to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components.