CVE-2009-2579 in CS-Cart
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in reward_points.post.php in the Reward points addon in CS-Cart before 2.0.6 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the sort_order parameter in a reward_points.userlog action to index.php, a different vulnerability than CVE-2005-4429.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/22/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-2579 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the CS-Cart e-commerce platform's Reward Points addon. This vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to 2.0.6 and operates through a carefully crafted attack vector that exploits the sort_order parameter in the reward_points.userlog action. The flaw is particularly concerning because it requires only authenticated access, meaning that an attacker who has already gained legitimate user credentials can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary SQL commands on the underlying database system. Unlike CVE-2005-4429 which addressed a different SQL injection vector, this vulnerability demonstrates the persistent nature of SQL injection flaws in web applications and highlights the importance of proper input validation even within authenticated sessions.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability operates through parameter manipulation within the reward_points.post.php script. When an authenticated user makes a request to index.php with the reward_points.userlog action and a malicious sort_order parameter, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape user input before incorporating it into SQL queries. This allows attackers to inject malicious SQL code that gets executed within the database context, potentially enabling full database compromise. The vulnerability falls under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses, and it aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation. The authenticated nature of the attack means that attackers don't need to perform initial reconnaissance or exploitation of authentication mechanisms, as they can immediately leverage their valid session to craft malicious payloads.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation can result in complete database compromise including data modification, deletion, and unauthorized access to sensitive customer information. Attackers could potentially escalate privileges within the database, extract customer personal information, modify transaction records, or even inject malicious code that could persist beyond the immediate SQL injection attack. The implications for e-commerce platforms are particularly severe as customer data, payment information, and business-critical data could be compromised. This vulnerability also demonstrates how seemingly minor functionality within add-ons can create significant security risks, as the reward points system itself is typically considered a legitimate business feature rather than a security-critical component. Organizations using affected versions of CS-Cart would face potential regulatory compliance violations, financial losses, and reputational damage if such attacks were successfully executed against their systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary and most effective solution is upgrading to CS-Cart version 2.0.6 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the SQL injection vulnerability. Organizations should also implement proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout their applications to prevent similar issues from occurring in other components. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls, database activity monitoring, and regular security scanning can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining up-to-date software, implementing defense-in-depth strategies, and conducting regular security assessments. Security teams should also consider implementing least privilege access controls and monitoring for unusual database activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on authenticated user sessions where such attacks could originate from within the legitimate user base.