CVE-2008-1076 in Shopping Cart
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in search.php in Interspire Shopping Cart 1.x allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the search_query parameter. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/09/2017
The CVE-2008-1076 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Interspire Shopping Cart 1.x web application, specifically affecting the search.php script. This vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing and rendering within the web application's response. The affected parameter search_query serves as the primary attack vector, where malicious actors can inject arbitrary HTML or JavaScript code that gets executed in the context of other users' browsers when they view the search results page. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and well-documented web application security flaws in the industry.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious search query containing script code within the search_query parameter and submits it to the vulnerable shopping cart application. When the application processes this input without proper sanitization, the malicious code becomes embedded in the search results page and executes in the browser context of unsuspecting victims who view these results. The vulnerability is classified as a reflected XSS attack since the malicious script is reflected off the web server in the response, rather than being stored on the server. This attack pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which describes social engineering through malicious content injection, and specifically targets the web application layer of the application architecture.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-1076 extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, redirect users to malicious sites, or execute arbitrary commands within the victim's browser context. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, potentially gaining unauthorized access to user accounts, or to perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the web application, as it allows unauthorized code execution in the browser environment of legitimate users. Given that shopping cart applications typically handle sensitive user data including personal information and payment details, the potential for data compromise is significant. The vulnerability also impacts the availability of the application by potentially causing denial of service through malformed script injection or by degrading the user experience through malicious content display.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's data processing pipeline. The recommended approach involves sanitizing all user input through whitelisting validation, encoding special characters before rendering output, and implementing Content Security Policy headers to prevent unauthorized script execution. The solution should include input validation that rejects or removes potentially malicious characters and sequences from the search_query parameter, while also ensuring that all output is properly escaped to prevent script execution in the browser context. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security code reviews to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output encoding practices as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and ISO 27001 security controls, emphasizing that proper security measures must be integrated throughout the entire software development lifecycle rather than addressed as afterthoughts.