CVE-2008-2212 in Maian Cart
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Maian Cart 1.1 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) msg_adminheader, (2) msg_adminheader2, (3) msg_adminheader3, (4) msg_adminheader4, and unspecified other parameters to admin/inc/header.php; the (5) msg_script3 and unspecified other parameters to admin/inc/footer.php; and the (6) keywords parameter to index.php in a search action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/20/2017
The CVE-2008-2212 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness in Maian Cart 1.1, a web-based e-commerce platform that was widely used for online store management. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws identified by the CWE organization. The flaw specifically affects the administrative interface components of the application, making it particularly concerning for system administrators and business owners who rely on the platform for their online operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through improper input validation and output encoding within several key PHP files of the Maian Cart application. Attackers can exploit this weakness by injecting malicious scripts into various parameters within the administrative header and footer components. The vulnerability manifests in five distinct parameter locations including msg_adminheader, msg_adminheader2, msg_adminheader3, msg_adminheader4, and msg_script3, all of which are processed through the admin/inc/header.php and admin/inc/footer.php files. Additionally, the keywords parameter in index.php during search operations presents another vector for exploitation. These parameters are not properly sanitized before being rendered back to users, creating an environment where malicious code can execute within the context of authenticated administrator sessions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. An attacker who successfully exploits these XSS flaws can gain unauthorized access to the administrative interface, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The attack can result in session hijacking, where malicious actors steal administrator credentials and maintain persistent access to the e-commerce platform. Furthermore, the vulnerability enables attackers to inject malicious scripts that can redirect users to phishing sites, steal sensitive customer data, modify product listings, alter pricing information, or even inject malware into the web server. The attack vectors align with the tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 technique for Command and Scripting Interpreter, where adversaries execute malicious code through web-based interfaces. The exploitation of these vulnerabilities can lead to significant financial losses, data breaches, and reputational damage for businesses using the affected platform.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-2212 should focus on immediate patching of the Maian Cart 1.1 application to the latest available version that addresses these XSS vulnerabilities. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application code, particularly in the administrative components that handle user-supplied data. The implementation of Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the web application stack. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding practices, which are fundamental security controls that align with the OWASP Top Ten security principles. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious activity patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Given the age of this vulnerability, it is particularly important for organizations still using Maian Cart 1.1 to migrate to modern e-commerce platforms that receive regular security updates and support.