CVE-2011-0451 in EC-CUBE
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in (1) data/Smarty/templates/default/list.tpl and (2) data/Smarty/templates/default/campaign/bloc/cart_tag.tpl in EC-CUBE before 2.4.4 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0451 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness affecting the EC-CUBE e-commerce platform version 2.4.3 and earlier. This vulnerability manifests in two specific template files within the application's directory structure, namely data/Smarty/templates/default/list.tpl and data/Smarty/templates/default/campaign/bloc/cart_tag.tpl. The flaw enables remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content into the application's user interface, creating persistent security risks for end users who interact with the platform.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the template rendering process. When user-supplied data is processed through these specific template files without proper sanitization, the application fails to escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This weakness directly maps to CWE-79, which defines Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities as the injection of malicious scripts into web applications that are then executed by other users. The vulnerability operates at the application layer where user input is directly rendered without appropriate security controls, making it particularly dangerous for e-commerce environments where user interactions are frequent and sensitive data is processed.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-0451 extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling attackers to perform session hijacking, deface the website, steal user credentials, or redirect victims to malicious sites. In the context of an e-commerce platform, this vulnerability could compromise customer data, facilitate fraudulent transactions, and damage the reputation of the organization operating the system. The attack vectors are particularly concerning because they leverage legitimate application functionality to deliver malicious payloads, making detection more difficult. According to ATT&CK framework reference T1165, this vulnerability aligns with the technique of "Client-side Attack" where adversaries exploit weaknesses in client-side applications to execute malicious code.
Organizations using affected versions of EC-CUBE should immediately implement the remediation measures provided by the vendor, specifically upgrading to version 2.4.4 or later where the XSS vulnerabilities have been patched. Additionally, implementing comprehensive input validation mechanisms, output encoding, and content security policies can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. Regular security assessments of template files and user input handling processes should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities that may exist within the application's codebase. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization in web applications and serves as a reminder of the persistent threat that XSS vulnerabilities pose to web-based systems.