CVE-2012-5807 in Zen Cart
Summary
by MITRE
The Authorize.Net eCheck module in Zen Cart does not verify that the server hostname matches a domain name in the subject s Common Name (CN) or subjectAltName field of the X.509 certificate, which allows man-in-the-middle attackers to spoof SSL servers via an arbitrary valid certificate.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/06/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-5807 represents a critical SSL certificate validation flaw within the Authorize.Net eCheck module of Zen Cart e-commerce platform. This issue stems from inadequate SSL certificate verification mechanisms that fail to properly validate the hostname against the certificate's subject common name or subject alternative name fields. The technical implementation lacks proper hostname verification during SSL/TLS handshakes, creating a significant security gap that can be exploited by malicious actors. This flaw specifically affects the secure payment processing functionality of Zen Cart installations that utilize the Authorize.Net eCheck module for electronic check transactions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables man-in-the-middle attacks where attackers can intercept and manipulate payment data transmitted between customers and the payment processor. An attacker with control over network traffic between a customer's browser and the Zen Cart server can present a valid SSL certificate for a different domain, thereby deceiving the client into believing it is communicating with the legitimate payment gateway. This allows for credential theft, transaction manipulation, and financial fraud. The vulnerability directly violates industry security standards and best practices for SSL/TLS implementation, particularly those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST guidelines for secure communications.
This vulnerability maps to CWE-297, which specifically addresses "Improper Validation of Certificate with Host Name Mismatch," and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046 for network service scanning and T1566 for credential harvesting through phishing or man-in-the-middle attacks. The flaw represents a failure in the certificate validation process that should have been implemented as part of the TLS/SSL handshake validation procedures. Organizations using affected Zen Cart versions are exposed to significant financial and reputational risks, as customers' sensitive payment information could be compromised during transactions. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental security weakness in how the application handles secure communications and validates server identities.
Mitigation strategies include immediate patching of the Zen Cart eCheck module to implement proper SSL certificate hostname verification, ensuring that the server hostname matches either the subject common name or subject alternative name fields of the X.509 certificate. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security measures such as certificate pinning, regular security audits of SSL/TLS configurations, and monitoring for suspicious network activity. Organizations should review their entire payment processing infrastructure for similar hostname verification flaws and ensure compliance with current security standards including PCI DSS requirements for secure payment processing. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of proper SSL/TLS certificate validation in protecting sensitive data transmission in e-commerce environments.