CVE-2012-6049 in Quick.Cart
Summary
by MITRE
Open Solution Quick.Cart 5.0 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via (1) a long string or (2) invalid characters in a cookie, which reveals the installation path in an error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-6049 affects Open Solution Quick.Cart version 5.0 and represents a sensitive data exposure issue that stems from inadequate input validation within the cookie handling mechanism. This flaw allows remote attackers to craft malicious cookie values containing either excessively long strings or invalid characters that trigger error messages revealing the system's installation path. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and demonstrates poor error handling practices that inadvertently disclose system information to unauthorized parties.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of cookie values sent by the client to the web server. When the application processes these malformed cookies, it fails to properly sanitize the input before using it in error generation or processing routines. This results in error messages that contain the absolute file path where Quick.Cart is installed on the server. The vulnerability specifically targets the cookie parsing and validation logic, where the application does not adequately filter or validate cookie contents before processing them, leading to information disclosure.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to gain knowledge about the server's file system structure which can serve as a foundation for more sophisticated attacks. The disclosed installation path can be used to infer the operating system, potentially reveal the web server configuration, and provide attackers with additional information for crafting targeted attacks. The vulnerability does not directly enable code execution or privilege escalation but provides critical reconnaissance information that significantly increases the attack surface. This type of information disclosure aligns with CWE-200, which describes the improper handling of sensitive information in software systems.
The security implications extend beyond simple path disclosure as this information can be leveraged in conjunction with other vulnerabilities to facilitate more comprehensive attacks. Attackers can use the revealed installation paths to understand the application's directory structure, potentially identifying configuration files, database connection details, or other sensitive components. This vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1083, which involves discovering system information through reconnaissance activities, and T1213, which covers data from information repositories. The flaw represents a common weakness in web application security where error handling does not properly mask system-specific information from end users.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and error handling mechanisms within the cookie processing logic. Applications should sanitize all cookie values before processing them and ensure that error messages do not contain sensitive system information. The recommended approach involves implementing strict validation rules for cookie content, including length limits and character set restrictions, while also ensuring that all error messages are generic and do not disclose internal system details. Organizations should also implement comprehensive logging and monitoring to detect unusual cookie patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability underscores the importance of following secure coding practices and proper error handling as outlined in security standards such as OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks, particularly focusing on input validation and information exposure prevention controls.