CVE-2011-4567 in Zen Cart
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in includes/templates/template_default/templates/tpl_gv_send_default.php in Zen Cart before 1.5 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the message parameter in a gv_send action to index.php, a different vulnerability than CVE-2011-4547.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/09/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4567 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within the Zen Cart e-commerce platform that affects versions prior to 1.5. This security weakness resides in the template file tpl_gv_send_default.php which handles the gift voucher sending functionality. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the message parameter is processed within the gv_send action of the index.php script, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute unauthorized web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected user sessions.
This XSS vulnerability operates through the manipulation of user input parameters without proper sanitization or validation mechanisms. The flaw enables remote attackers to inject malicious content that gets executed when other users view the affected page or interact with the gift voucher functionality. The vulnerability is distinct from CVE-2011-4547, indicating it represents a separate code path or implementation issue within the Zen Cart framework. The affected template file processes user-supplied message data without adequate encoding or filtering, allowing attackers to embed script tags or other malicious HTML elements that persist in the application's output.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can facilitate session hijacking, credential theft, and further exploitation within the targeted environment. An attacker could craft malicious messages that, when viewed by administrators or other users, would execute scripts in their browsers to steal cookies, redirect them to malicious sites, or perform actions on their behalf. The gift voucher functionality presents a particularly attractive target since it often involves user-generated content that gets displayed to multiple parties, amplifying the potential reach of the XSS payload. This vulnerability undermines the trust model of the e-commerce platform and compromises the security of user sessions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-4567 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Zen Cart installations to version 1.5 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent similar issues in the future, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being processed or displayed. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers and proper HTML escaping techniques can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. Security practitioners should also consider monitoring web application logs for suspicious activity related to gift voucher functionality and user input manipulation, as outlined in the CWE-79 category for cross-site scripting vulnerabilities. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter execution, as malicious scripts could be executed through the XSS vector to compromise user sessions and system integrity.