CVE-2007-0376 in Virtuemart
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Virtuemart 1.0.7 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/17/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-0376 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Virtuemart version 1.0.7, a popular e-commerce platform built on the Joomla content management system. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting attacks where malicious scripts are injected into web applications. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of a user's browser session, potentially compromising the integrity of the web application and the security of its users. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Virtuemart component, particularly in how it processes user-supplied data that gets rendered back to the browser without proper sanitization.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through unspecified vectors that likely involve user input fields or parameters within the Virtuemart shopping cart functionality. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that, when processed by the vulnerable application, get executed in the browsers of unsuspecting users who visit affected pages. This typically happens when user-provided data such as product descriptions, customer reviews, or form inputs containing script tags are not properly sanitized before being displayed. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious websites. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that Virtuemart was widely deployed in e-commerce environments where users frequently interact with product information and make purchases, making the potential for user exposure significant.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-0376 is substantial, particularly in environments where Virtuemart serves as the primary e-commerce solution. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to user sessions, potentially leading to financial fraud and data breaches. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or knowledge of internal network structures to exploit it. This makes the attack vector particularly dangerous as it can be executed through web browsers from any location with internet access. The flaw could also enable attackers to modify the content displayed to users, potentially leading to misinformation campaigns or the injection of malware. Organizations using affected versions of Virtuemart face increased risk of reputational damage, regulatory compliance violations, and potential legal consequences due to the exposure of user data and system integrity compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of the affected Virtuemart version to the latest available security updates. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms that sanitize all user-supplied data before processing, utilizing established security libraries and frameworks designed to prevent XSS attacks. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application stack. Network monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and following the principle of least privilege when configuring web applications. Organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls to provide additional protection against known attack patterns and ensure that all third-party components are regularly updated to address known security issues. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1059.007 technique for script injection attacks, emphasizing the need for comprehensive defensive measures across multiple security domains.