CVE-2021-3291 in Zen Cart
Summary
by MITRE • 01/26/2021
Zen Cart 1.5.7b allows admins to execute arbitrary OS commands by inspecting an HTML radio input element (within the modules edit page) and inserting a command.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/13/2025
This vulnerability exists within Zen Cart version 1.5.7b, a widely used open source e-commerce platform that processes online transactions for numerous businesses worldwide. The flaw manifests in the administrative module editing interface where administrators can manipulate HTML radio input elements. When an attacker crafts malicious input containing OS commands within these radio button elements, the application fails to properly sanitize or validate the user-supplied data before processing it. This represents a classic command injection vulnerability that undermines the security boundaries of the web application and potentially compromises the underlying operating system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the module editing functionality. When administrators interact with the HTML radio input elements during module configuration, the application directly incorporates user-supplied values into system commands without proper escaping or encoding. This allows an attacker with administrative privileges to execute arbitrary operating system commands with the privileges of the web server process. The vulnerability specifically targets the administrative interface, making it particularly dangerous as it requires minimal additional attack vectors beyond gaining administrative access. The flaw aligns with CWE-77 which catalogs improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands, and represents a critical security weakness in the application's input handling mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple command execution as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected system. An attacker who can access the administrative interface can potentially escalate privileges, access sensitive customer data, modify product information, manipulate transaction records, and even use the compromised server for further attacks against other systems. The vulnerability undermines the principle of least privilege by allowing administrative users to execute system-level commands that should remain restricted to system administrators. This represents a severe privilege escalation issue that could lead to complete system compromise and data breaches affecting thousands of customers. The attack surface is particularly concerning as many organizations rely on Zen Cart for their online commerce operations, making this vulnerability attractive to cybercriminals seeking to exploit e-commerce platforms.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of the affected Zen Cart version to address the input validation deficiencies. Organizations must implement comprehensive input sanitization measures that properly escape or encode all user-supplied data before processing, particularly within administrative interfaces. The implementation of web application firewalls and security monitoring systems can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Administrative access should be strictly controlled with multi-factor authentication and regular privilege reviews to minimize the risk of unauthorized access. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and implementing proper input validation as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security controls. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other applications and systems within the organization's infrastructure.