CVE-2006-4904 in X-Cart
Summary
by MITRE
Dynamic variable evaluation vulnerability in cmpi.php in Qualiteam X-Cart 4.1.3 and earlier allows remote attackers to overwrite arbitrary program variables and execute arbitrary PHP code, as demonstrated by PHP remote file inclusion via the xcart_dir parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/04/2018
The CVE-2006-4904 vulnerability represents a critical dynamic variable evaluation flaw in the Qualiteam X-Cart e-commerce platform version 4.1.3 and earlier. This vulnerability resides within the cmpi.php script which processes user input through the xcart_dir parameter without proper sanitization or validation. The flaw enables remote attackers to manipulate variable assignments through dynamic evaluation techniques that bypass normal input validation mechanisms. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to overwrite arbitrary program variables and execute arbitrary PHP code on the target server, effectively compromising the entire application environment.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages PHP's dynamic variable evaluation capabilities, specifically through the use of variables that are constructed from user-supplied input. When the xcart_dir parameter is processed in cmpi.php, the application performs dynamic variable assignment operations that do not properly validate or sanitize the input values. This creates a path for attackers to inject malicious code that gets executed within the PHP runtime environment. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-95 as it involves the execution of code through improper handling of dynamic variable evaluation. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious input that manipulates the cmpi.php script to include remote files, effectively achieving remote file inclusion attacks that are particularly dangerous in web application contexts.
The operational impact of CVE-2006-4904 extends far beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected X-Cart installation. Once exploited, attackers can manipulate the application's functionality, steal sensitive customer data, modify product information, and potentially use the compromised server as a launching point for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability's remote nature means that exploitation can occur from anywhere on the internet without requiring local access or authentication. This makes it particularly attractive to automated attack tools and increases the likelihood of widespread exploitation across multiple installations. The vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under T1190 for exploitation of remote services and T1059 for execution through PHP scripts.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the affected X-Cart versions, as the original vendor has released fixes for this specific flaw. Organizations should implement input validation at multiple layers including application-level filtering of user inputs, proper parameter sanitization before dynamic variable evaluation, and the implementation of secure coding practices that avoid direct user input manipulation in variable assignment operations. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures, though they cannot substitute for proper code-level fixes. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of secure coding practices, particularly in handling dynamic variables and user inputs, and serves as a reminder of the necessity for regular security assessments and vulnerability management processes. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime monitoring to detect anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, as well as maintaining up-to-date security patches across all web applications to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.