CVE-2022-21149 in S-Cart
Summary
by MITRE • 05/01/2022
The package s-cart/s-cart before 6.9; the package s-cart/core before 6.9 are vulnerable to Cross-site Scripting (XSS) which can lead to cookie stealing of any victim that visits the affected URL so the attacker can gain unauthorized access to that user's account through the stolen cookie.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/04/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-21149 affects the s-cart e-commerce platform and its core components, specifically versions prior to 6.9. This represents a critical security flaw that exposes users to significant risks through cross-site scripting attacks. The vulnerability exists within the web application's input validation mechanisms, where user-supplied data is not properly sanitized before being rendered in web pages. The affected software fails to implement adequate output encoding and input filtering controls that would normally prevent malicious scripts from executing in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user inputs within the s-cart platform's codebase. When users interact with the affected application, particularly through URL parameters or form inputs, malicious script code can be injected and subsequently executed in the browser context of other users who visit the compromised pages. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that can capture session cookies, which are typically stored in the browser's memory and automatically sent with each request to the targeted domain. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it enables attackers to hijack active user sessions without requiring authentication credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with unauthorized access to user accounts through session hijacking. When an authenticated user visits a malicious page that exploits this vulnerability, their session cookies are automatically sent to the attacker's server, allowing the attacker to impersonate that user and perform actions within the application as if they were the legitimate user. This can result in unauthorized transactions, data manipulation, account takeovers, and potential escalation to administrative privileges if the compromised user has elevated access rights. The attack vector is particularly insidious because it requires minimal user interaction beyond visiting a malicious URL, making it a significant threat to user account security and application integrity.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's codebase. The recommended approach includes implementing proper HTML entity encoding for all user-supplied content before rendering it in web pages, utilizing Content Security Policy headers to restrict script execution, and implementing strict input validation that rejects potentially malicious content. Organizations should also consider implementing secure coding practices that align with OWASP Top Ten recommendations and the ATT&CK framework's mitigation strategies for web application attacks. The most effective solution involves updating to version 6.9 or later of both s-cart/s-cart and s-cart/core packages, which contain the necessary patches to address the XSS vulnerability and prevent cookie theft through malicious script injection attacks.