CVE-2023-6775 in POS and Inventory Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 12/13/2023
A vulnerability was found in CodeAstro POS and Inventory Management System 1.0. It has been classified as problematic. This affects an unknown part of the file /item/item_con. The manipulation of the argument item_name leads to cross site scripting. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The associated identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-247911.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/10/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-6775 represents a critical cross site scripting flaw within the CodeAstro POS and Inventory Management System version 1.0. This security weakness resides in the /item/item_con file component and demonstrates a classic input validation failure that allows malicious actors to inject harmful scripts into the application's response. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the item_name parameter is manipulated, creating an opportunity for attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of other users' browsers. The classification as problematic indicates the severity of impact, particularly given that this flaw affects core inventory management functionality that likely handles sensitive business data and user interactions. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can initiate attacks without requiring physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where the application may be accessible to unauthorized users.
The technical exploitation of this XSS vulnerability follows established patterns where malicious input is not properly sanitized or validated before being rendered in web responses. When the item_name parameter contains script payloads, these scripts execute in the browser context of legitimate users who view the affected inventory items, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability's presence in the item_con file suggests that inventory management operations, which are fundamental to point of sale systems, have been compromised to allow such malicious code injection. This flaw directly maps to CWE-79 which defines cross site scripting as the failure to properly validate or escape user input before including it in web pages. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a web application vulnerability that could be leveraged for initial access or privilege escalation within the system's operational environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-6775 extends beyond simple script execution as it compromises the integrity and confidentiality of the inventory management system. In a point of sale environment, this vulnerability could enable attackers to access sensitive business information, manipulate inventory records, or potentially gain unauthorized access to customer data that flows through the system. The public disclosure of the exploit, as indicated by the VDB-247911 identifier, means that threat actors can readily utilize this vulnerability without requiring advanced technical skills, significantly increasing the risk to affected organizations. Organizations using this system face potential financial losses, regulatory compliance violations, and reputational damage if inventory data is compromised or manipulated. The vulnerability's location within core inventory management functions suggests that it could affect critical business operations, potentially disrupting sales processes and inventory tracking capabilities that are essential to retail operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-6775 should focus on immediate input validation and output encoding measures to prevent script injection. Organizations must implement proper sanitization of all user inputs, particularly those used in dynamic content generation, and ensure that all parameters including item_name are validated against expected formats and lengths. The recommended approach includes implementing Content Security Policy headers, using proper HTML encoding for dynamic content, and applying input validation at multiple layers of the application architecture. Security patches should be applied immediately if available from the vendor, and organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in related systems, while comprehensive monitoring of system logs can help detect exploitation attempts. Additionally, user education regarding the risks of clicking suspicious links or interacting with untrusted inventory data can provide an additional layer of defense against potential exploitation of this vulnerability.