CVE-2018-16455 in Market Place Script
Summary
by MITRE
PHP Scripts Mall Market Place Script 1.0.1 allows XSS via a keyword.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-16455 affects the PHP Scripts Mall Market Place Script version 1.0.1, representing a cross-site scripting flaw that enables malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts into the application's response. This particular vulnerability resides within the keyword input handling mechanism, where user-supplied data fails to undergo proper sanitization or encoding before being rendered back to users. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices, creating an environment where attacker-controlled content can be executed within the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows the classic XSS attack pattern where the application processes user input without sufficient sanitization measures. When users search for keywords within the marketplace platform, the system accepts the input directly and incorporates it into HTML responses without appropriate escaping or encoding. This allows an attacker to craft malicious payloads that, when processed by the application, get executed in the browsers of other users who view the affected search results. The vulnerability is classified as a stored XSS variant since the malicious script can persist in the application's database and affect multiple users over time.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to both the platform's integrity and its users' security. An attacker could exploit this flaw to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, deface the marketplace interface, or execute unauthorized transactions on behalf of users. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as it can compromise the entire user trust model of the marketplace platform, potentially leading to financial losses, reputational damage, and regulatory compliance issues. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system as defined by the CIA triad, since it enables unauthorized access to user sessions and can disrupt normal operations.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a technique under T1566 - Phishing, where the initial compromise occurs through web-based attack vectors. Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. Developers should employ proper HTML escaping for all user-supplied content, utilize Content Security Policy headers, and implement proper input sanitization routines. Additionally, the platform should adopt a defense-in-depth approach by implementing web application firewalls, regular security code reviews, and automated vulnerability scanning to prevent similar issues from occurring in future releases. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to OWASP Top Ten security guidelines for web application development.