CVE-2015-2183 in ZeusCart
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in the administrative backend in ZeusCart 4 allow remote administrators to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the id parameter in a (1) disporders detail or (2) subadminmgt edit action or (3) cid parameter in an editcurrency action to admin/.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/08/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-2183 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the administrative backend of ZeusCart 4, a widely used e-commerce platform. This vulnerability specifically targets the administrative interfaces and allows remote attackers with administrative privileges to execute arbitrary SQL commands through carefully crafted input parameters. The flaw manifests in three distinct attack vectors that leverage different parameters within the administrative control panel, making it particularly dangerous as it provides multiple pathways for exploitation. The vulnerability resides in the way the application processes user input within the administrative backend, where insufficient input validation and sanitization allows malicious SQL code to be injected and executed within the database context.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows the classic SQL injection pattern where the application fails to properly escape or parameterize user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL queries. The three identified attack vectors demonstrate the breadth of the vulnerability's impact, with the id parameter in disporders detail actions, the subadminmgt edit action, and the cid parameter in editcurrency actions all serving as potential entry points for malicious SQL injection attempts. These parameters are processed within administrative functions that handle order management, sub-administrator management, and currency configuration respectively, indicating that the vulnerability affects core administrative functionality of the e-commerce platform. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-89 which defines SQL injection as the insertion of malicious SQL code into input fields for execution by the database, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.005 for application layer protocol manipulation.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-2183 is severe and multifaceted, as it allows authenticated attackers with administrative access to escalate their privileges and potentially gain complete control over the underlying database system. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to extract sensitive customer data, modify product information, alter pricing structures, manipulate order records, and potentially compromise the entire e-commerce platform. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the system, and the fact that it requires only administrative credentials makes it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by insiders or compromised administrator accounts. The attack vectors span across multiple administrative functions, suggesting that a single compromised administrative account could potentially allow full database compromise through various access points, making the impact exponentially more severe than a single point of failure vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action including applying the vendor-provided security patches or upgrading to a patched version of ZeusCart 4. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and parameterized queries throughout the administrative backend to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in the future. The implementation of proper access controls and monitoring of administrative activities can help detect and prevent unauthorized exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls to provide an additional layer of protection against SQL injection attacks. Regular security assessments and code reviews focusing on database interaction patterns should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to industry standards such as OWASP Top Ten and NIST guidelines for preventing SQL injection attacks, particularly within administrative interfaces where the potential for damage is greatest.