CVE-2021-43158 in Online Shopping System PHP
Summary
by MITRE • 12/22/2021
In ProjectWorlds Online Shopping System PHP 1.0, a CSRF vulnerability in cart_remove.php allows a remote attacker to remove any product in the customer's cart.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/29/2025
The CVE-2021-43158 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the ProjectWorlds Online Shopping System PHP 1.0 platform that exposes users to unauthorized cart modifications. This vulnerability exists in the cart_remove.php component of the web application, where insufficient validation mechanisms fail to verify the authenticity of requests originating from legitimate users. The flaw enables remote attackers to manipulate customer shopping carts by crafting malicious requests that target the cart removal functionality, potentially leading to unauthorized product removal from customer orders.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the absence of proper anti-forgery tokens or request origin validation within the cart_remove.php script. When a user navigates to the shopping cart page and attempts to remove items, the application fails to enforce strict validation of the request source or implement unique tokens that would prevent unauthorized requests from executing successfully. This design flaw aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities where applications fail to validate the origin of requests or implement adequate protection mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple cart manipulation to potentially compromise customer trust and business integrity within the online shopping ecosystem. Attackers could exploit this weakness to remove high-value items from customer carts, potentially leading to revenue loss, customer dissatisfaction, and reputational damage. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or user credentials to exploit it, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users may be tricked into visiting malicious websites or clicking on compromised links.
Security practitioners should recognize this vulnerability as a significant risk within web application security frameworks, particularly when assessing the robustness of e-commerce platforms. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation practices and inadequate session management, which are fundamental security requirements in web application development. According to ATT&CK framework category T1531, this vulnerability represents a technique that can be leveraged for privilege escalation and unauthorized data manipulation within web applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-43158 should prioritize the immediate implementation of anti-CSRF tokens within the cart_remove.php script, ensuring that each request contains unique validation tokens that correlate with the user's active session. Additionally, implementing proper request origin validation and enforcing strict session management protocols will significantly reduce the attack surface. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security audits of all web application components to identify similar vulnerabilities in cart management and other critical functionalities. The remediation process must include thorough testing to verify that legitimate user interactions remain unaffected while unauthorized requests are properly blocked. Regular security assessments and adherence to secure coding practices will help prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future application versions.