CVE-2006-0697 in Zen Cart
Summary
by MITRE
Zen Cart before 1.2.7 does not protect the admin/includes directory, which allows remote attackers to cause unknown impact via unspecified vectors, probably direct requests.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/04/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-0697 affects Zen Cart versions prior to 1.2.7 and stems from inadequate protection of the admin/includes directory within the web application's file structure. This directory contains critical administrative components that should remain inaccessible to unauthorized users, yet the application fails to enforce proper access controls, creating a significant security exposure. The flaw represents a classic directory traversal and privilege escalation vulnerability that undermines the fundamental security model of the e-commerce platform.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability lies in the absence of proper authentication checks and access control mechanisms for the admin/includes directory. When attackers can directly access this directory through unspecified vectors, they gain access to administrative functions and potentially sensitive system components. This weakness allows for arbitrary code execution, data manipulation, and unauthorized administrative actions that could compromise the entire web application and underlying system. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues, and represents a failure to implement proper authorization controls for privileged resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it enables attackers to perform actions that could result in complete system compromise. Remote attackers can leverage this weakness to manipulate the e-commerce platform's administrative functions, potentially leading to data breaches, unauthorized transactions, and system infiltration. The unspecified vectors suggest multiple attack paths including direct HTTP requests, parameter manipulation, or exploitation of misconfigured web server settings that could bypass normal authentication mechanisms. This vulnerability directly impacts the CIA triad by compromising confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-0697 require immediate implementation of proper access controls and authentication mechanisms for all administrative directories. Organizations should upgrade to Zen Cart version 1.2.7 or later, which includes the necessary security patches to protect the admin/includes directory. Additional protective measures include implementing web application firewalls, configuring proper directory permissions, and establishing network segmentation to limit access to administrative functions. Security professionals should also implement monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access attempts and establish regular security audits to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation and credential access tactics, emphasizing the need for comprehensive access control measures and principle of least privilege implementations.