CVE-2016-4837 in Seed Coupon Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the Seed Coupon plugin before 1.6 for EC-CUBE allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/14/2019
The CVE-2016-4837 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Seed Coupon plugin for the EC-CUBE e-commerce platform, affecting versions prior to 1.6. This vulnerability exposes the underlying database system to unauthorized command execution, potentially allowing malicious actors to manipulate or extract sensitive information from the affected system. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the plugin's codebase, creating an exploitable entry point for remote attackers who can craft malicious SQL queries through unspecified input vectors. The vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's handling of user-supplied data, which is then directly incorporated into database queries without proper escaping or parameterization mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when attacker-controlled input reaches the database layer without appropriate sanitization measures. This allows threat actors to inject malicious SQL code that executes with the privileges of the database user associated with the EC-CUBE application. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple input points within the plugin may be susceptible to manipulation, potentially including form fields, URL parameters, or API endpoints that process coupon-related data. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-89 SQL Injection, which is categorized under the broader weakness category of insufficient input validation and improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands. The ATT&CK framework would classify this as a technique involving command injection within the database layer, potentially enabling data exfiltration, privilege escalation, and system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-4837 extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive customer information including personal details, payment records, and business-critical data. Organizations running affected EC-CUBE installations face significant risk of data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and potential financial losses. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for web-facing applications. Database administrators and security teams must recognize that this vulnerability can facilitate lateral movement within networks, as attackers may use the compromised system as a foothold to access other connected systems. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that EC-CUBE installations often contain sensitive business data, making the potential impact of exploitation substantial.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-4837 require immediate action to upgrade the Seed Coupon plugin to version 1.6 or later, which contains the necessary security patches to address the SQL injection vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms and employ parameterized queries or prepared statements to prevent similar issues in other components of their applications. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection by monitoring and filtering suspicious database query patterns. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify other potential vulnerabilities within the EC-CUBE platform and its associated plugins. System administrators must also implement proper access controls and monitoring for database activities to detect unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and following secure coding practices that prevent injection attacks through proper input sanitization and output encoding techniques.