CVE-2012-1792 in Online Merchant
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in osCommerce/OM/Core/Site/Setup/Application/Install/RPC/DBCheck.php in OSCommerce Online Merchant 3.0.2, when the software is being installed, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the name parameter to oscommerce/index.php, which is not properly handled in an error message. NOTE: this might not be a vulnerability, since the ability to access oscommerce/index.php during installation may already imply administrator privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/23/2018
The CVE-2012-1792 vulnerability represents a cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the OSCommerce Online Merchant 3.0.2 platform during its installation phase. This vulnerability exists within the database check RPC component located at osCommerce/OM/Core/Site/Setup/Application/Install/RPC/DBCheck.php, which processes requests through the main index.php file. The security flaw manifests when the name parameter is passed to the installation interface without proper input sanitization, creating a potential vector for malicious code injection that could be executed in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it occurs during the software installation process when administrators typically have elevated privileges and system access.
This XSS vulnerability operates through the improper handling of user input within error messages generated during database configuration checks. When an attacker supplies malicious content through the name parameter in the URL path leading to oscommerce/index.php, the system fails to properly escape or validate this input before displaying it in error messages. The flaw specifically targets the installation phase where the software is configuring database connections and validating system requirements. According to CWE-79, this represents a classic cross-site scripting vulnerability where web applications fail to properly validate or escape user-controllable data before incorporating it into dynamic web pages. The attack vector allows remote adversaries to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content that executes in the browser context of other users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it could enable attackers to perform various malicious activities within the compromised environment. During the installation phase, when administrators are configuring the system, the vulnerability could allow attackers to execute scripts that might steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or even perform actions that could compromise the entire installation process. The potential for privilege escalation exists because the installation interface typically requires administrative access, and any compromise of this phase could affect the entire system configuration. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1211 which involves the exploitation of vulnerabilities in software installation processes to gain elevated privileges or execute unauthorized commands.
The vulnerability's classification as potentially not being a security issue stems from the fact that access to the installation interface during software setup may already imply administrative privileges, making the attack surface more limited in practice. However, this does not eliminate the risk entirely, as attackers who can access the installation process could potentially manipulate the entire system configuration, including database connections, file permissions, and system settings. The risk is particularly elevated in environments where the installation interface remains accessible after the initial setup, or where security misconfigurations allow unauthorized access to this administrative area. Security practitioners should consider implementing network segmentation, access controls, and proper authentication mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access to installation interfaces during system deployment. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation and output encoding in all web application components, especially those handling administrative functions and system configuration tasks.