CVE-2008-1550 in CubeCart
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in index.php in CubeCart 4.2.1 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) the _a parameter in a searchStr action and the (2) Submit parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1550 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in CubeCart 4.2.1 e-commerce platform. This vulnerability manifests through two distinct attack vectors within the index.php file that processes user input. The first vector exploits the _a parameter during a searchStr action, while the second targets the Submit parameter, both of which fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into web responses. These weaknesses create opportunities for remote attackers to inject malicious scripts or HTML code that executes within the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or data manipulation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the CubeCart application. When users submit search queries or form data through the affected parameters, the application fails to properly escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This lack of proper sanitization allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that bypass the application's security controls, ultimately executing in the victim's browser context. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, where applications fail to properly validate or escape user-controllable data before including it in dynamically generated web pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited across multiple user sessions. An attacker could potentially manipulate search results to display malicious content, redirect users to phishing sites, or harvest sensitive session cookies from authenticated users. The attack requires minimal privileges and can be executed remotely, making it particularly dangerous for e-commerce environments where user trust and data security are paramount. This vulnerability undermines the integrity of user sessions and could lead to complete account compromise or unauthorized transactions within the affected system.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in search and form submission contexts. The recommended approach involves implementing proper HTML entity encoding for all dynamic content, employing Content Security Policy headers to restrict script execution, and upgrading to patched versions of CubeCart where available. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security audits of their web applications to identify similar vulnerabilities and establish robust input sanitization protocols that align with industry standards such as those recommended by the Open Web Application Security Project. Additionally, implementing Web Application Firewalls and regular security monitoring can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts targeting these types of vulnerabilities.