CVE-2023-4174 in mooStore
Summary
by MITRE • 08/06/2023
A vulnerability has been found in mooSocial mooStore 3.1.6 and classified as problematic. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality. The manipulation leads to cross site scripting. The attack can be launched remotely. The identifier VDB-236209 was assigned to this vulnerability.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/24/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-4174 represents a cross site scripting flaw within mooSocial mooStore version 3.1.6, a web application framework that facilitates social networking and e-commerce functionalities. This security weakness falls under the category of input validation failures and specifically manifests as a client-side code injection vulnerability that allows attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability was assigned the identifier VDB-236209 by the VDB database, indicating its recognition within the security community's tracking systems.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through remote attack vectors, meaning that malicious actors can trigger the XSS payload without requiring physical access to the target system or network. The flaw exists within an unknown functionality of the mooStore application, suggesting that the vulnerable code path has not been explicitly detailed in available documentation or public reports. This ambiguity in the vulnerability's specific implementation makes the threat assessment more challenging for security professionals who must identify potential attack surfaces within the application's codebase. The cross site scripting vulnerability enables attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the victim's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of authenticated users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains that leverage the compromised user sessions. Attackers can exploit the XSS flaw to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious domains, modify web page content, or perform actions that appear to originate from legitimate users. This threat model aligns with the ATT&CK framework's technique T1531 for "Modify System Image" and T1071.004 for "Application Layer Protocol: DNS" when attackers use the vulnerability to redirect traffic or manipulate application behavior. The vulnerability's classification as problematic by the security community indicates that it poses a significant risk to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system's data and user interactions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the mooStore application's codebase. Security professionals should enforce strict sanitization of all user inputs and implement proper content security policies to prevent script execution. The CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) classification for this vulnerability would likely fall under CWE-79, which addresses Cross-site Scripting vulnerabilities, and potentially CWE-352, addressing Cross-Site Request Forgery, depending on the specific attack vectors available. Organizations should prioritize patching the affected mooStore version to the latest release, implementing web application firewalls, and conducting thorough security testing to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application's functionality. Additionally, user education regarding suspicious website behavior and the importance of maintaining updated browser security settings can provide additional defense layers against exploitation attempts.