CVE-2012-20001 in PrestaShop
Summary
by MITRE • 12/21/2021
PrestaShop before 1.5.2 allows XSS via the "
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2021
CVE-2012-20001 represents a cross-site scripting vulnerability affecting PrestaShop versions prior to 1.5.2, classified under CWE-79 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation. This vulnerability arises from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input within the web application's output generation process, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary javascript code into web pages viewed by other users. The flaw specifically manifests when the application fails to properly escape or validate input data before incorporating it into dynamic web content, allowing attackers to manipulate the application's behavior and potentially compromise user sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the application's handling of user-provided parameters that are directly rendered in HTML output without adequate security controls. When users interact with the affected PrestaShop installation, particularly through forms or URL parameters, the application processes these inputs without sufficient validation or encoding mechanisms. This creates a persistent threat vector where attackers can craft malicious payloads that execute within the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized administrative actions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to e-commerce platforms relying on PrestaShop, as it enables attackers to compromise customer sessions and potentially gain access to sensitive transactional data. The impact extends beyond simple script execution, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to modify product listings, alter pricing information, or redirect customers to malicious websites. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple user interactions makes it particularly dangerous for online retailers where customer trust and data integrity are paramount. Organizations using affected versions face potential regulatory compliance issues and reputational damage if customer data is compromised through such attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-20001 require immediate remediation through upgrading to PrestaShop version 1.5.2 or later, which includes proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Additionally, implementing comprehensive web application firewalls, deploying content security policies, and conducting regular security audits can provide layered protection against similar vulnerabilities. Security teams should also establish robust input sanitization protocols and ensure all user-supplied data undergoes proper validation before being incorporated into web page content. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically targeting web application exploitation techniques that leverage input validation weaknesses to establish persistent access to target systems.