CVE-2005-4331 in iHTML Merchant
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in merchant.ihtml in iHTML Merchant Version 2 Pro allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) step, (2) id, and (3) pid parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/28/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4331 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the iHTML Merchant Version 2 Pro web application. This vulnerability specifically affects the merchant.ihtml component which serves as a merchant interface for processing transactions and managing order information. The flaw exists in how the application handles user input parameters, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to manipulate database queries through carefully crafted input. The affected parameters include step, id, and pid which are commonly used for navigation and data retrieval operations within the merchant interface. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-89 category of SQL Injection, which is classified as a high-risk vulnerability in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog due to its potential for unauthorized database access and data manipulation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers submit malicious input through the three identified parameters in the merchant.ihtml script. When these parameters are not properly sanitized or validated, the application concatenates user input directly into SQL query strings without adequate escaping or parameterization. This allows attackers to inject malicious SQL code that gets executed by the database server, potentially enabling full database access, data extraction, modification, or even complete system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects core functionality parameters that are essential for the merchant application to operate, making it difficult to implement effective input validation without disrupting legitimate user operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete system compromise and business disruption. Attackers could potentially extract sensitive customer information including personal details, payment information, and transaction records from the underlying database. The vulnerability also enables attackers to modify or delete critical business data, potentially causing financial losses and operational downtime. In a merchant environment, this could lead to unauthorized transactions, inventory manipulation, and complete disruption of e-commerce operations. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it affects the core merchant functionality, meaning that any legitimate user interaction with the affected parameters could potentially be exploited by malicious actors.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar issues. The primary solution involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application codebase, specifically targeting the three affected parameters. Organizations should implement strict input sanitization routines that filter or escape special characters that could be used in SQL injection attacks. The implementation should follow the principle of least privilege for database connections, ensuring that the web application only has access to the minimum required database permissions. Additionally, regular security code reviews and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. This vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and should be addressed through comprehensive security training for development teams. The remediation process should include thorough testing to ensure that input validation does not inadvertently break legitimate application functionality while effectively blocking malicious input attempts.