CVE-2012-2731 in Ubercart AJAX Cart
Summary
by MITRE
The Ubercart AJAX Cart 6.x-2.x before 6.x-2.1 for Drupal stores the PHP session id in the JavaScript settings array in page loads, which might allow remote attackers to obtain sensitive information by sniffing or reading the cache of the HTML of a webpage.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2731 affects the Ubercart AJAX Cart module version 6.x-2.x prior to 6.x-2.1 within the Drupal content management system. This flaw represents a critical information disclosure vulnerability that arises from improper handling of session identifiers within the web application's client-side code. The module's implementation inadvertently exposes sensitive session information through the JavaScript settings array that is embedded in HTML page responses, creating a significant security risk for e-commerce transactions and user privacy.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the module's design pattern where PHP session identifiers are serialized and included in the JavaScript configuration data that gets rendered in web page markup. When Drupal processes requests and generates HTML responses, the session ID becomes part of the JavaScript settings object that is accessible to client-side scripts and can be cached or intercepted during transmission. This occurs because the module does not properly sanitize or separate session identifiers from publicly accessible JavaScript variables, creating an attack surface where malicious actors can extract session information through various reconnaissance methods.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable session hijacking attacks and unauthorized access to user accounts. When attackers intercept network traffic or gain access to cached HTML pages, they can extract the PHP session ID and use it to impersonate legitimate users within the Drupal application. This vulnerability directly violates security principles outlined in CWE-200, which addresses information exposure, and represents a specific instance of CWE-352, concerning cross-site request forgery, through the improper exposure of session tokens. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires minimal technical expertise and can be automated through network sniffing tools or cache inspection techniques.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers credential access through phishing and social engineering, as the session information can be harvested through network traffic interception. The exposure of session identifiers in client-side JavaScript creates an attack surface that allows for persistent session hijacking, where attackers can maintain access to user sessions even after the initial page load. This vulnerability particularly impacts e-commerce environments where Ubercart is deployed, as it could enable unauthorized access to user shopping carts, order histories, and potentially sensitive payment information. The risk is compounded by the fact that session IDs are typically designed to be ephemeral and should remain server-side confidential.
The recommended mitigations for this vulnerability include immediate upgrade to Ubercart AJAX Cart version 6.x-2.1 or later, which addresses the improper session handling through proper sanitization of JavaScript settings. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and encryption protocols to prevent interception of sensitive data in transit, while ensuring proper HTTP headers are configured to prevent caching of sensitive information. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can help prevent unauthorized script execution and limit the exposure of sensitive data within the browser environment. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper session management and the need for thorough security reviews of third-party modules before deployment in production environments, particularly those handling sensitive user data.