CVE-2018-15897 in Website Seller Script
Summary
by MITRE
PHP Scripts Mall Website Seller Script 2.0.5 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via crafted JavaScript code in the First Name, Last Name, Company Name, or Fax field, as demonstrated by crossPwn.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/19/2020
CVE-2018-15897 represents a denial of service vulnerability affecting PHP Scripts Mall Website Seller Script version 2.0.5, classified under CWE-400 as Uncontrolled Resource Consumption. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the script's user registration and profile update functionalities. The flaw specifically targets four critical data fields including First Name, Last Name, Company Name, and Fax field, where malicious actors can inject crafted JavaScript code that triggers resource exhaustion on the target system. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it allows remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks without requiring authentication or privileged access, making it highly exploitable within the context of web application security.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of input fields that are typically used for legitimate user data collection. When attackers submit malicious JavaScript payloads through these fields, the application fails to properly sanitize or validate the input before processing or storing the data. The crossPwn demonstration showcases how carefully crafted JavaScript code can cause the server to consume excessive CPU cycles or memory resources during processing, leading to service unavailability for legitimate users. This behavior aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which covers Network Denial of Service, where attackers leverage application-level vulnerabilities to exhaust system resources and render services unavailable.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it affects the core functionality of the website seller script's user management system. When exploited, the vulnerability can cause cascading effects throughout the application, potentially leading to complete service outages and impacting business operations. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can target the system from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access or elevated privileges. This makes it particularly dangerous for businesses relying on the script for e-commerce operations, as the attack can be executed continuously without detection, leading to prolonged service interruptions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-15897 should focus on implementing robust input validation and sanitization mechanisms across all user-facing data entry points. Organizations should deploy comprehensive output encoding and content security policies to prevent malicious JavaScript execution. The implementation of web application firewalls and intrusion prevention systems can provide additional layers of protection by detecting and blocking suspicious input patterns. Regular security updates and patches should be prioritized, as this vulnerability affects a specific version of the script that likely contains other unpatched security flaws. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual resource consumption patterns and automated alerting for potential denial of service attacks targeting user input fields. According to industry best practices, this vulnerability highlights the critical importance of defense in depth strategies and proper input validation as fundamental security controls that should be implemented across all web applications to prevent similar resource exhaustion attacks.