CVE-2008-6503 in PrestaShop
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in PrestaShop 1.1.0.3 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the PATH_INFO to (1) admin/login.php and (2) order.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-6503 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness affecting PrestaShop version 1.1.0.3, specifically targeting the administrative and order processing interfaces of the e-commerce platform. This flaw resides in how the application processes PATH_INFO parameters within the HTTP request, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code within the context of a victim's browser session. The vulnerability impacts two distinct endpoints: admin/login.php and order.php, making it particularly dangerous as it can compromise both administrative access and customer order processing functionality.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the PrestaShop codebase. When the application receives HTTP requests containing PATH_INFO parameters, it fails to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic web page content. This processing gap creates a persistent XSS vector that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts directly into the application's response. The PATH_INFO parameter is typically used by web servers to pass additional path information to applications, but in this case, the application does not adequately sanitize this input before rendering it within HTML contexts, thereby enabling script execution.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-6503 extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with significant privileges within the PrestaShop environment. Successful exploitation of the vulnerability in admin/login.php could enable attackers to hijack administrative sessions, potentially leading to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive customer data, product catalogs, and financial information. When targeting order.php, attackers can inject malicious scripts that execute during order processing, potentially redirecting customers to fraudulent sites or harvesting payment information. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding, and represents a classic example of how insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data can create persistent security risks in web applications.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a prime example of how path-based input handling can create dangerous attack surfaces in web applications. The flaw demonstrates the critical importance of implementing proper input validation at all entry points, particularly in administrative interfaces where elevated privileges can be gained. Organizations running affected versions of PrestaShop should immediately implement mitigations including input sanitization of PATH_INFO parameters, output encoding of all dynamic content, and deployment of web application firewalls to filter malicious payloads. The vulnerability also highlights the need for regular security audits and patch management processes, as this issue was likely present in multiple versions of the platform and could have been exploited for extended periods. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1566.001 (Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment) and T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript) through the exploitation of the XSS vector for session hijacking and script execution attacks.