CVE-2008-1906 in cpCommerce
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in calendar.php in cpCommerce 1.1.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the year parameter in a view.year action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/20/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1906 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the cpCommerce 1.1.0 e-commerce platform's calendar functionality. This security weakness exists in the calendar.php script where user input is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to web browsers. The specific attack vector targets the year parameter within the view.year action, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML code that executes in the context of other users' browsers. Such vulnerabilities fall under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a critical web application security risk by the Common Weakness Enumeration standard.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the cpCommerce application. When the year parameter is processed through the view.year action, the application fails to sanitize or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This lack of proper input sanitization creates an environment where attackers can embed malicious payloads that persist within the application's calendar display functionality. The vulnerability enables attackers to execute scripts in victims' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. The attack requires no privileged access and can be executed through simple web requests, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that handle sensitive user data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can be leveraged to compromise user sessions and steal sensitive information from authenticated users. Attackers can craft malicious year parameters that, when viewed by other users, execute scripts that capture cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or perform unauthorized actions on behalf of victims. This type of vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can be exploited to gain unauthorized access to user accounts within the cpCommerce platform. The vulnerability affects all users who interact with the calendar functionality, potentially exposing the entire user base to coordinated attacks. According to ATT&CK framework, this represents a T1059.007 technique involving script injection and a T1566.001 tactic related to credential access through web application vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-1906 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the cpCommerce application. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-provided input, particularly parameters used in dynamic content generation, and implementing strict output encoding before rendering any user data in web pages. This includes applying HTML entity encoding to all dynamic content, implementing Content Security Policy headers to restrict script execution, and ensuring proper input validation through whitelisting mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious parameter values, while regular security audits should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices and input validation in preventing widespread web application attacks that can compromise entire user bases through seemingly minor implementation flaws.