CVE-2008-2917 in E-SMART CART
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in productsofcat.asp in E-SMART CART allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the category_id parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/28/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2917 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the e-smart cart web application, specifically affecting the productsofcat.asp script. This vulnerability resides in the handling of user-supplied input through the category_id parameter, which is processed without adequate sanitization or validation mechanisms. The flaw enables malicious actors to inject arbitrary sql commands into the database query execution flow, potentially compromising the entire backend database system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the productsofcat.asp component where the category_id parameter is directly incorporated into sql queries without appropriate escaping or parameterization techniques. This allows attackers to manipulate the sql execution context by injecting malicious sql payloads through the category_id input field. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses sql injection weaknesses in application code where user input is concatenated into sql commands without proper sanitization. The attack vector is remote and requires no authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited from any network location.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation can enable attackers to execute arbitrary database commands including data modification, deletion, or extraction of sensitive information. Attackers could potentially escalate privileges within the database, access confidential customer data, manipulate product catalogs, or even gain access to administrative functions. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the e-smart cart application, potentially leading to complete system compromise. This type of vulnerability is categorized under the ATT&CK technique T1190 - exploit public-facing application, which specifically addresses the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-2917 require immediate implementation of proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application codebase. The recommended approach involves replacing direct string concatenation of user input with prepared statements or parameterized queries that separate sql command structure from data values. Additionally, implementing proper input sanitization techniques, including whitelisting acceptable character sets for category_id parameters, and establishing comprehensive output encoding for all database results will significantly reduce the attack surface. Security headers should be implemented to prevent sql injection attempts, and regular security code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The fix should also include implementing proper error handling that does not expose database structure information to end users, as this information could aid further exploitation attempts.