CVE-2008-1921 in 5th Avenue Shopping Cart
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in store_pages/category_list.php in 5th Avenue Shopping Cart 1.2 trial edition allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the category_ID parameter.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/21/2024
The CVE-2008-1921 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw in the 5th avenue shopping cart 1.2 trial edition software. This vulnerability specifically targets the store_pages/category_list.php script where the category_id parameter is improperly validated and sanitized. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious sql commands directly into the application's database layer through the web interface, bypassing normal authentication and authorization mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper sql query construction practices within the application's codebase.
This sql injection vulnerability operates under the common weakness enumeration CWE-89 which categorizes improper neutralization of special elements used in sql commands as a fundamental security flaw. The attack vector leverages the fact that the application directly incorporates user-supplied input from the category_id parameter into sql queries without proper sanitization or parameterization. The specific nature of this vulnerability means that an attacker can manipulate the sql execution flow to perform unauthorized database operations including data retrieval, modification, deletion, or even privilege escalation within the database system. The remote nature of this vulnerability eliminates the need for physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or corruption. Attackers can potentially gain complete control over the database backend, extract sensitive customer information including personal details and payment data, modify product catalogs, manipulate inventory systems, and even escalate privileges to gain administrative access to the entire shopping cart system. The trial edition of 5th avenue shopping cart represents a common attack surface as many organizations deploy trial versions of commercial software without proper security assessments, leaving these systems vulnerable to exploitation. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of e-commerce operations and can result in significant financial losses, regulatory compliance violations, and reputational damage for affected organizations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate implementation of parameterized queries or prepared statements to prevent sql injection attacks, comprehensive input validation and sanitization of all user-supplied parameters, and regular security code reviews to identify similar flaws. Organizations should also implement web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious sql injection patterns, conduct regular penetration testing, and ensure that all software components are updated to the latest secure versions. The remediation process must involve proper database access controls, least privilege principles for database accounts, and regular monitoring of database activities for unauthorized access attempts. Additionally, implementing proper error handling that does not expose internal database structure information to end users prevents attackers from gaining insights into the database schema. This vulnerability highlights the critical importance of following secure coding practices and adheres to the ATT&CK framework's technique T1071.004 which covers application layer protocol tunneling and T1190 which addresses exploit public-facing applications, emphasizing the need for robust input validation and secure coding practices in web applications.