CVE-2023-41233 in e-Commerce
Summary
by MITRE • 09/27/2023
Cross-site scripting vulnerability in Item List page registration process of Welcart e-Commerce versions 2.7 to 2.8.21 allows a remote unauthenticated attacker to inject an arbitrary script.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/19/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-41233 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Welcart e-Commerce platform affecting versions 2.7 through 2.8.21. This vulnerability specifically targets the Item List page registration process, creating an attack vector that enables remote unauthenticated adversaries to inject malicious scripts into the web application. The flaw exists in the input validation and output encoding mechanisms of the platform's administrative interface, where user-provided data is not adequately sanitized before being rendered back to users. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is a fundamental web application security weakness that allows attackers to execute scripts in the context of other users. The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can potentially enable attackers to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious websites.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits malicious script code through the Item List page registration form without authentication. The platform fails to properly validate or sanitize the input data, allowing the malicious payload to be stored and subsequently executed when other users view the affected page. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the user-facing interface level, where legitimate users interact with the system. The attack can be executed through various vectors including crafted product names, descriptions, or other editable fields within the item registration process. The vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the application's security controls at the data sanitization and output encoding layers, where the platform does not implement proper HTML escaping or input validation to prevent script execution. This weakness aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, which describes how attackers target vulnerabilities in externally accessible applications to gain unauthorized access or execute malicious code.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-41233 extends beyond immediate script execution capabilities to encompass broader security implications for e-commerce operations. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to steal sensitive customer information, manipulate product listings, or compromise user sessions within the platform. The unauthenticated nature of the attack means that any visitor to the affected website could potentially exploit this weakness without requiring valid credentials, making it particularly dangerous for public-facing e-commerce platforms. Organizations using affected Welcart versions face risks including data breaches, customer trust erosion, and potential regulatory compliance violations. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that remains active until patched, as it does not require specific user interaction beyond visiting the affected pages. Security teams must consider the implications of this vulnerability in their incident response planning, as it could be exploited to establish persistent access or to conduct more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft or session hijacking.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-41233 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Welcart e-Commerce installations to version 2.8.22 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding measures to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other parts of their web applications. The remediation process should include thorough code review of all user input handling mechanisms, particularly those related to administrative interfaces and content management features. Security measures should also include implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities, regular security scanning of web applications, and monitoring for suspicious activity related to user input processing. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious script injection attempts, while maintaining detailed logging of user interactions with administrative functions. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and the need for regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in web application frameworks. Additionally, security awareness training for developers should emphasize the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in preventing cross-site scripting attacks.