CVE-2008-6279 in Rakhisoftware Shopping Cart
Summary
by MITRE
RakhiSoftware Price Comparison Script (aka Shopping Cart) allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via an invalid PHPSESSID cookie, which reveals the installation path in an error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/27/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-6279 affects the RakhiSoftware Price Comparison Script, also known as the Shopping Cart application, presenting a significant information disclosure risk that can be exploited by remote attackers. This flaw specifically manifests when the application processes an invalid PHPSESSID cookie value, creating an opportunity for adversaries to extract sensitive system information through error message responses. The vulnerability represents a classic case of improper error handling where the application fails to sanitize or properly validate session identifiers, leading to unintended exposure of critical system details.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's insecure handling of session management components within the PHP environment. When an attacker submits an invalid PHPSESSID cookie value to the system, the application's session handling mechanism generates an error message that inadvertently includes the full installation path of the script on the server filesystem. This occurs because the application's error reporting mechanism is configured to display detailed error information to users, including stack traces and path information, without proper sanitization of the input parameters. The flaw is particularly dangerous as it directly exposes the absolute file path where the vulnerable application is installed, providing attackers with crucial information for further exploitation attempts.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates multiple security risks for affected organizations. The disclosure of the installation path enables attackers to conduct more sophisticated attacks by understanding the application's directory structure and potentially identifying other system components or configuration files that might be accessible. This information can facilitate directory traversal attacks, path disclosure exploits, and other advanced techniques that require knowledge of the target system's file structure. Additionally, the vulnerability can be leveraged as a reconnaissance tool in broader attack campaigns, where attackers use the exposed path information to plan more targeted exploitation strategies against the application or underlying infrastructure.
The vulnerability aligns with several established cybersecurity frameworks and classifications including CWE-200, which specifically addresses "Information Exposure," and CWE-312, which covers "Sensitive Data Exposure." From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1083 "File and Directory Discovery" and T1068 "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" tactics. The exposure of system paths through error messages represents a fundamental flaw in input validation and error handling practices that should be addressed through proper security configuration and application hardening measures.
Effective mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of secure error handling practices within the application. Organizations should configure the PHP environment to disable detailed error messages for end users and implement proper input validation for session identifiers. The application should be modified to handle invalid PHPSESSID values gracefully without exposing system paths in error responses. Additionally, proper logging mechanisms should be implemented to monitor and detect suspicious session handling activities. System administrators should also ensure that the web server configuration does not display PHP error messages to remote users and that appropriate security headers are implemented to prevent information leakage. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications and prevent similar issues from occurring in the future.