CVE-2008-4170 in osCommerce
Summary
by MITRE
create_account.php in osCommerce 2.2 RC 2a allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via an invalid dob parameter, which reveals the installation path in an error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/09/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-4170 affects the osCommerce 2.2 RC 2a e-commerce platform and represents a sensitive data exposure issue that stems from inadequate input validation and error handling mechanisms. This flaw exists within the create_account.php script which is responsible for user registration functionality, making it a critical concern for online stores that handle customer information. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the system processes an invalid date of birth parameter, demonstrating poor error management practices that inadvertently disclose system information to unauthorized parties.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's failure to properly sanitize user input during the account creation process. When an attacker submits an invalid dob parameter to the create_account.php endpoint, the system generates an error message that contains the full installation path of the osCommerce installation. This occurs because the application does not implement proper input validation or exception handling for date format parsing, allowing malformed date inputs to trigger internal error conditions that expose filesystem paths. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which describes the improper handling of sensitive information in error messages, and demonstrates how seemingly innocuous input validation failures can result in significant information disclosure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the exposed installation path provides attackers with crucial reconnaissance data for subsequent attacks. Attackers can leverage this information to understand the system architecture, potentially identifying other vulnerabilities through path-based reconnaissance or planning more sophisticated attacks. The exposure of the installation path may enable attackers to perform directory traversal attacks, identify system configuration details, or correlate the discovered path information with known vulnerabilities in specific osCommerce versions. This vulnerability also represents a significant risk to compliance requirements, as it violates data protection principles by exposing system internals that should remain confidential.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and secure error handling practices. Organizations should ensure that all user inputs are thoroughly validated before processing, with specific attention to date format validation to prevent malformed inputs from triggering error conditions. The system should be configured to display generic error messages to users while logging detailed technical information internally for administrators. This approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1211, which involves the exploitation of information disclosure vulnerabilities, and follows security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten. Additionally, regular security audits and input sanitization should be implemented to prevent similar issues in other application components, ensuring that error handling mechanisms do not inadvertently expose sensitive system information. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices and proper error handling in web applications, particularly those handling sensitive user data.