CVE-2006-4527 in CubeCart
Summary
by MITRE
includes/content/gateway.inc.php in CubeCart 3.0.12 and earlier, when magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, uses an insufficiently restrictive regular expression to validate the gateway parameter, which allows remote attackers to conduct PHP remote file inclusion attacks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/24/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-4527 affects CubeCart 3.0.12 and earlier versions, specifically within the includes/content/gateway.inc.php file. This issue arises from improper input validation mechanisms that fail to adequately sanitize user-supplied data. The flaw manifests when the magic_quotes_gpc directive is disabled on the web server, creating a dangerous condition where attacker-controlled input can bypass normal security restrictions. The vulnerability stems from an insufficiently restrictive regular expression that validates the gateway parameter, which is typically used to determine which payment gateway processing module should be invoked during the checkout process.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows remote attackers to exploit a classic remote file inclusion (RFI) attack vector through the gateway parameter. When magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, PHP does not automatically escape special characters in GET, POST, and COOKIE data, leaving the application susceptible to manipulation. The inadequate regular expression validation fails to properly filter or sanitize the gateway parameter, enabling attackers to inject malicious URLs or file paths that will be included and executed by the PHP interpreter. This occurs because the application directly incorporates user-supplied input into include statements without proper validation or sanitization, creating a direct path for arbitrary code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and can result in complete system compromise. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can execute arbitrary PHP code on the target server, potentially leading to data breaches, system infiltration, and unauthorized access to sensitive customer information. The vulnerability affects the payment processing functionality of CubeCart, which means attackers could potentially manipulate transaction data, steal customer payment information, or redirect payments to fraudulent accounts. Additionally, the compromise could extend to full server access, allowing attackers to install backdoors, exfiltrate data, or use the compromised system as a launching point for further attacks against other systems within the network.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-94, which describes improper validation of syntax in a code execution context, and specifically relates to CWE-434, which covers Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type. The attack pattern follows the Remote File Inclusion technique documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1190 for Exploit Public-Facing Application and T1059 for Command and Scripting Interpreter. Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to a patched version of CubeCart, enabling magic_quotes_gpc if possible, implementing proper input validation and sanitization, and applying web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious include patterns. Additionally, comprehensive logging and monitoring should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts, and all input parameters should be validated against strict whitelists rather than relying on insufficient regular expression filtering.