CVE-2005-4289 in Edatcat Shopping Cart System
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in EDCstore.pl in eDatCat 0.3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the user_action parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-4289 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw that emerged in the eDatCat 0.3 content management system specifically within its EDCstore.pl component. This issue enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers through manipulation of the user_action parameter, creating a significant security risk for web applications that rely on user input validation. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data before it is processed and rendered back to users, making it susceptible to injection attacks that can compromise user sessions and data integrity.
The technical nature of this flaw aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web page content without adequate validation or encoding. The vulnerability operates by allowing an attacker to submit malicious input through the user_action parameter that gets directly embedded into the web application's response without proper sanitization. This creates an environment where JavaScript code or HTML content can be executed in the victim's browser when they view the affected page, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses substantial risk to organizations using eDatCat 0.3 as their content management system. Attackers could exploit this weakness to steal user authentication cookies, redirect legitimate users to phishing sites, or inject malicious content that could compromise the entire web application. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation does not require any special privileges or physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that handle sensitive information. The vulnerability also represents a potential vector for advanced persistent threats as attackers can establish footholds that persist across user sessions.
The remediation approach for this vulnerability involves implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's data flow. Organizations should employ parameterized queries and input sanitization techniques to prevent malicious content from being processed as executable code. The solution aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering attacks that often leverage XSS vulnerabilities to deliver malicious payloads. Security measures should include implementing Content Security Policy headers, using proper HTML encoding for all dynamic content, and conducting regular security testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in web applications. Additionally, developers should follow secure coding practices that prevent direct insertion of user input into web page content without proper validation and sanitization, ensuring that all parameters are treated as untrusted data regardless of their source or intended use within the application.