CVE-2006-4525 in CubeCart
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in CubeCart 3.0.12 and earlier, when register_globals is enabled, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the links array.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/19/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-4525 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting CubeCart versions 3.0.12 and earlier. This issue specifically manifests when the PHP configuration parameter register_globals is enabled, creating a dangerous condition where user-supplied input can be improperly processed and executed within web pages. The vulnerability resides in how the application handles the links array parameter, which serves as an injection vector for malicious code execution. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-provided data before it is rendered in web responses.
This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as CWE-79, which categorizes it as a Cross-Site Scripting weakness. The attack scenario involves remote adversaries who can craft malicious payloads containing script code within the links array parameter. When the vulnerable application processes this input and displays it without proper sanitization, the injected scripts execute in the context of other users' browsers. The operational impact extends beyond simple script execution to potentially enable session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability's exploitation is particularly concerning because it leverages the dangerous register_globals PHP feature, which automatically creates global variables from request data, bypassing normal input validation procedures.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.001 technique for Command and Scripting Interpreter. Attackers can exploit this weakness to execute arbitrary code within users' browsers, potentially compromising entire user sessions and accessing sensitive data. The vulnerability affects the application's integrity and confidentiality by allowing unauthorized code execution, which can lead to persistent threats. The use of register_globals as an enabling condition makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous because it represents an outdated and insecure PHP configuration that should never be used in production environments. The links array parameter serves as a critical entry point where user input directly influences web page content generation, creating a direct pathway for malicious script injection.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-4525 require immediate action to address both the immediate vulnerability and underlying configuration issues. Organizations must first disable register_globals in their PHP configurations, as this setting fundamentally undermines web application security. The CubeCart application should be upgraded to versions 3.0.13 or later, which contain proper input sanitization patches. Implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms becomes essential for preventing similar vulnerabilities. Web application firewalls and content security policies should be deployed to provide additional protection layers. Regular security assessments and code reviews are necessary to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in other application components. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices and avoiding deprecated PHP features that introduce unnecessary security risks.