CVE-2024-40746 in HikaShop Component
Summary
by MITRE • 10/21/2024
A stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in HikaShop Joomla Component < 5.1.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript in the web browser of a user, by including a malicious payload in the `description` parameter of any product. The `description `parameter is not sanitised in the backend.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/19/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw in the HikaShop Joomla component affecting versions prior to 5.1.1. The security weakness arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the backend processing of product description fields, creating an avenue for persistent malicious code injection. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious JavaScript payloads within the description parameter during product creation or modification processes, which then gets stored in the application's database and subsequently executed whenever the product page is rendered to unsuspecting users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the component's failure to properly sanitize user-supplied input before storing it in the database. When administrators or users create or edit products through the backend interface, the description field accepts raw HTML and JavaScript content without adequate filtering or encoding. This lack of proper input sanitization directly violates security best practices and creates a persistent threat vector where malicious code can be embedded and executed in the context of any user's browser session who views affected product pages. The vulnerability operates as a stored XSS attack because the malicious payload is permanently stored within the application's data store rather than being executed through a single request.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities within users' browser contexts. Compromised users could experience session hijacking, credential theft, redirection to malicious sites, or even complete account takeovers depending on the privileges of the affected users. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that product descriptions are typically editable by multiple user roles including administrators and potentially regular users with appropriate permissions, increasing the likelihood of exploitation. This vulnerability can be leveraged to bypass traditional security controls such as browser security policies and can persist even after the initial injection point is removed from the application's interface.
Organizations using affected versions of HikaShop should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to version 5.1.1 or later, which contains the necessary input sanitization patches. Additionally, administrators should conduct thorough input validation on all product description fields, implement proper HTML sanitization libraries, and consider implementing content security policies to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious content. Regular security auditing of input handling mechanisms and user privilege management should be enforced to prevent similar vulnerabilities in other components of the Joomla ecosystem.