CVE-2025-1776 in Soteshop
Summary
by MITRE • 02/28/2025
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Soteshop, versions prior to 8.3.4, which could allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via the ‘query’ parameter in /app-google-custom-search/searchResults. This vulnerability can be exploited to steal sensitive user data, such as session cookies, or to perform actions on behalf of the user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2025
This cross-site scripting vulnerability exists within the Soteshop e-commerce platform affecting versions prior to 8.3.4 and specifically targets the /app-google-custom-search/searchResults endpoint. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize or encode user input passed through the 'query' parameter, creating an avenue for malicious script execution in the context of a victim's browser session. The vulnerability is classified as a classic reflected XSS attack vector where attacker-controlled input is directly embedded into the web application's response without adequate validation or output encoding. This weakness enables remote attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes in the victim's browser when they navigate to a specially crafted URL containing the malicious payload.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows the standard XSS attack pattern where the attacker crafts a malicious URL with embedded script code in the query parameter and delivers it to victims through phishing campaigns, social engineering, or by compromising legitimate web pages. When a user clicks such a link, their browser executes the injected script in the context of the vulnerable application, potentially allowing attackers to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions, or redirect users to malicious sites. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can lead to complete session hijacking, privilege escalation, and data exfiltration. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which defines the weakness of insufficient input validation and output encoding in web applications, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1531 which covers "Use of Web Shell" and T1071.3 which addresses "Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols" in the context of web-based attacks.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability are significant for both end users and system administrators. Users face potential exposure of their session data, personal information, and account privileges, while the organization risks reputational damage, regulatory penalties, and potential legal liabilities. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to user accounts, monitor user activities, and conduct further reconnaissance within the application. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability exists in a search functionality that is likely frequently used by legitimate users, making exploitation more probable and harder to detect. Organizations should immediately implement security patches to version 8.3.4 or higher, which should include proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers, input validation at multiple layers, and regular security testing can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to protect against similar vulnerabilities in the future.
The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and output encoding in web applications, particularly in search and user input handling components. It highlights how seemingly benign functionality can become a gateway for sophisticated attacks when proper security measures are not implemented. Organizations should adopt comprehensive security practices including regular vulnerability assessments, code reviews focusing on input handling, and security awareness training for developers to prevent similar issues. The incident underscores the necessity of following secure coding guidelines and implementing automated security testing in development pipelines to catch such vulnerabilities before they can be exploited in production environments.