CVE-2008-6304 in xt:Commerce
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in xt:Commerce before 3.0.4 Sp2.1, when magic_quotes_gpc is enabled and the SEO URLs are activated, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/06/2017
The CVE-2008-6304 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw within xt:Commerce e-commerce platform versions prior to 3.0.4 Sp2.1. This vulnerability specifically leverages the interaction between the platform's security mechanisms and its SEO URL handling functionality to create a dangerous attack vector. The vulnerability exists in the context of how the system processes user input when magic_quotes_gpc is enabled, which typically serves as a protection mechanism against SQL injection attacks by automatically escaping certain characters in GET, POST, and COOKIE data. However, this protection mechanism becomes ineffective when combined with the specific conditions present in the xt:Commerce platform's SEO URL processing code, creating a scenario where malicious input can bypass the expected sanitization.
The technical flaw manifests when the platform's SEO URL handling component processes user-supplied parameters without proper input validation or sanitization, even though the magic_quotes_gpc setting is enabled. This creates a situation where attackers can craft malicious input that, when processed through the SEO URL routing system, gets executed as SQL commands against the underlying database. The vulnerability is particularly insidious because it exploits the very security feature designed to prevent SQL injection, demonstrating how security measures can sometimes create unexpected weaknesses when improperly implemented or when they interact poorly with other system components. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability could be triggered through various input points within the SEO URL functionality, making it difficult to predict all potential attack surfaces and increasing the attack surface significantly.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for any organization running affected xt:Commerce installations. Remote attackers can execute arbitrary SQL commands against the database, potentially leading to complete system compromise including data theft, data manipulation, unauthorized access to customer information, and potential system takeover. The vulnerability undermines the integrity of the entire e-commerce platform, as attackers could modify product catalogs, alter pricing information, access sensitive customer data, and potentially escalate privileges within the system. Given that e-commerce platforms typically handle sensitive financial and personal information, the potential for data breaches and financial fraud is substantial. The fact that the vulnerability requires only remote access without authentication makes it particularly dangerous, as attackers can exploit it from anywhere on the internet.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-6304 should focus on immediate platform updates to version 3.0.4 Sp2.1 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the SQL injection vulnerability. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures including input validation at multiple layers, database query parameterization, and regular security assessments of web applications. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL command, and represents a classic example of how security controls can create false positives when not properly integrated. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, as it allows adversaries to exploit a publicly accessible web application. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring to detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while ensuring that all input processing follows secure coding practices that do not rely on incomplete security measures like magic_quotes_gpc for protection against SQL injection attacks.