CVE-2017-15285 in X-Cart
Summary
by MITRE
X-Cart 5.2.23, 5.3.1.9, 5.3.2.13, and 5.3.3 is vulnerable to Remote Code Execution. This vulnerability exists because the application fails to check remote file extensions before saving locally. This vulnerability can be exploited by anyone with Vendor access or higher. One attack methodology is to upload an image file in the Attachments section of a product catalog, upload a .php file with an "Add File Via URL" action, and change the image's Description URL to reference the .php URL in the attachments/ directory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/24/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15285 represents a critical remote code execution flaw in X-Cart e-commerce platforms version 5.2.23, 5.3.1.9, 5.3.2.13, and 5.3.3. This weakness stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly verify file extensions during the upload process, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on the affected system. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-434, which specifically addresses "Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type," a well-documented security weakness that has been consistently flagged in web application security assessments. The flaw exists within the application's file handling logic where it does not sufficiently validate or sanitize file extensions before storing files locally, allowing attackers to bypass normal security restrictions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as it enables attackers with vendor-level access or higher to gain complete control over the affected X-Cart installation. The exploitation methodology described in the vulnerability assessment demonstrates how an attacker can leverage the system's trust in image file uploads by first uploading a malicious php file through the Attachments section of the product catalog. This process involves using the "Add File Via URL" functionality to place the malicious file in the attachments directory, then manipulating the image's Description URL to point to the uploaded php file. This technique effectively transforms a legitimate file upload mechanism into a backdoor for code execution, allowing attackers to run arbitrary commands on the server with the privileges of the web application. The vulnerability's accessibility through vendor-level access means that it can be exploited by insiders or attackers who have gained administrative credentials, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users have elevated privileges.
The security implications extend beyond simple code execution to encompass full system compromise and data breach potential. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to install malware, steal sensitive customer data, modify product catalogs, or establish persistent backdoors within the e-commerce platform. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, which covers "Command and Scripting Interpreter" and specifically addresses how adversaries can execute code through various means including web shells and malicious file uploads. Organizations running affected X-Cart versions face significant risk of unauthorized access to their customer databases, payment information, and business-critical data. The attack vector demonstrates how seemingly benign file upload features can become weaponized when proper validation controls are absent, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it requires minimal privileges to exploit and can cause extensive damage once successful. This weakness also highlights the critical importance of implementing proper file type validation, content inspection, and access control mechanisms in web applications to prevent such dangerous privilege escalation scenarios.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-15285 should focus on immediate patching of affected X-Cart versions to address the core file validation flaw, combined with implementing robust input validation controls that restrict file uploads to safe formats only. Organizations should deploy web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious file upload patterns, implement strict file extension validation that checks against whitelists of approved formats, and establish comprehensive access control policies that limit vendor-level privileges to essential personnel only. The vulnerability serves as a prime example of why defense-in-depth strategies are critical in modern web application security, emphasizing that single points of failure in input validation can lead to complete system compromise. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar validation weaknesses in other application components, while security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual file upload activities that may indicate exploitation attempts.