CVE-2009-2016 in Virtue Shopping Mall
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in products.php in Virtue Shopping Mall allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the cid parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-2016 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Virtue Shopping Mall e-commerce platform, specifically affecting the products.php script. This vulnerability resides in the handling of the cid parameter, which serves as a category identifier for product listings. The flaw enables remote attackers to manipulate database queries by injecting malicious SQL code through this parameter, potentially compromising the entire underlying database system. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection attacks, and aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of vulnerabilities in web applications. The security implications extend beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive customer information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize or validate user input received through the cid parameter in the products.php script. When a user submits a category identifier, the application directly incorporates this input into SQL query construction without adequate input filtering or parameterization. This lack of proper input validation creates an exploitable condition where attackers can craft malicious SQL payloads that bypass authentication mechanisms and manipulate database operations. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands, potentially enabling them to extract, modify, or delete database records at will. The flaw demonstrates poor secure coding practices and violates fundamental principles of input validation and database query construction as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and ISO/IEC 27001 security standards.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond immediate data exposure, creating cascading security risks for organizations utilizing Virtue Shopping Mall. Attackers exploiting this flaw can gain unauthorized access to customer databases containing personal information, payment details, and transaction records, leading to potential identity theft, financial fraud, and regulatory compliance violations. The vulnerability also enables attackers to escalate privileges within the database, potentially allowing them to execute system-level commands or access other interconnected systems. Organizations may face significant financial losses due to data breaches, regulatory fines, and remediation costs. The attack surface is particularly concerning for e-commerce platforms where customer trust and data protection are paramount, as the breach could result in complete loss of business confidence and legal consequences under data protection regulations such as GDPR or PCI DSS requirements.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-2016 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements within the Virtue Shopping Mall platform. The primary solution involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection attacks, which aligns with the ATT&CK mitigation technique T1592 for protecting against exploitation. Organizations should immediately patch the vulnerable products.php script by sanitizing all user inputs, particularly the cid parameter, and implementing proper prepared statements or parameterized queries to ensure that user input cannot be interpreted as SQL code. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls, input filtering mechanisms, and regular security code reviews can provide additional layers of protection. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices, including the principle of least privilege for database connections and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. Organizations should also implement monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain compliance with industry standards such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO/IEC 27002 for information security management.