CVE-2014-3846 in Flying Cart
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Flying Cart allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the p parameter to index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2022
The CVE-2014-3846 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Flying Cart e-commerce platform that exposes users to significant security risks. This vulnerability specifically affects the index.php script where the p parameter serves as an entry point for malicious input. The flaw enables remote attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML code directly into the application's response, creating a persistent vector for various attack scenarios. The vulnerability's classification as XSS aligns with CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as a weakness that occurs when an application incorporates untrusted data into web pages without proper validation or escaping mechanisms. The impact extends beyond simple script injection as it provides attackers with the capability to execute malicious code in the context of the victim's browser session.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal prerequisites as attackers only need to craft a malicious payload containing script code and pass it through the vulnerable p parameter in the index.php URL. When the application processes this parameter without adequate sanitization, it directly embeds the malicious content into the HTML response, which then executes in the victim's browser. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK framework's technique T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566 for Phishing, as it enables attackers to establish persistent access through malicious scripts. The vulnerability's exploitation typically involves injecting JavaScript code that can steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The lack of input validation and output encoding in the application's parameter handling creates an environment where attackers can manipulate the application's behavior to execute unintended code.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-3846 extends beyond immediate script execution as it fundamentally compromises the integrity of user sessions and potentially the entire application. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information such as login credentials or personal data, and perform unauthorized transactions within the e-commerce platform. The vulnerability affects all users who interact with the affected application, making it particularly dangerous for online shopping platforms where financial transactions occur. Additionally, the presence of such a vulnerability can lead to broader security implications including potential data breaches, loss of customer trust, and regulatory compliance violations. Organizations using Flying Cart or similar platforms face increased risk of being targeted by automated scanning tools that specifically look for known XSS vulnerabilities, making the exploitation likelihood higher than typical application flaws. The vulnerability's persistence means that once exploited, attackers can maintain access through session manipulation or by embedding additional malicious code that continues to function across user sessions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-3846 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's codebase. The primary defense involves sanitizing all user-provided input parameters, particularly those used in dynamic content generation, through proper escaping techniques that prevent script execution. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices including parameterized queries, input validation, and output encoding as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security risks. Regular security testing including dynamic and static application security testing should be implemented to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parameters or application components. Patch management processes must be established to ensure timely updates to vulnerable applications, as this particular vulnerability was addressed through official security patches released by the Flying Cart developers. Additionally, web application firewalls can provide an additional layer of protection by detecting and blocking suspicious input patterns that attempt to exploit XSS vulnerabilities. The remediation process should include comprehensive code review to identify all input parameters that may be vulnerable to similar injection attacks and implementation of consistent security controls across the entire application architecture.