CVE-2025-50972 in AbanteCart
Summary
by MITRE • 08/27/2025
SQL Injection vulnerability in AbanteCart 1.4.2, allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the tmpl_id parameter to index.php. Three techniques have been demonstrated: error-based injection using a crafted FLOOR-based payload, time-based blind injection via SLEEP(), and UNION-based injection to extract arbitrary data.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/29/2025
The vulnerability CVE-2025-50972 represents a critical SQL injection flaw in AbanteCart version 1.4.2 that exposes the platform to unauthenticated attack vectors. This weakness resides in the handling of the tmpl_id parameter within the index.php script, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate database queries without requiring valid credentials or authentication. The vulnerability's severity is compounded by its accessibility, as attackers can exploit it from any network position without prior access rights to the system.
Technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages three distinct injection methodologies that demonstrate increasing levels of sophistication and data extraction capabilities. The first technique employs error-based injection using FLOOR-based payloads that force the database to generate error messages containing sensitive information about the underlying data structure. The second approach utilizes time-based blind injection through SLEEP() functions, allowing attackers to infer database contents through timing variations in query execution. The third method employs UNION-based injection techniques that enable direct data extraction from database tables through carefully constructed query unions. These methods collectively represent the full spectrum of SQL injection exploitation strategies and demonstrate the vulnerability's comprehensive impact across multiple attack vectors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation can lead to complete database compromise, unauthorized access to customer information, and potential system-wide infiltration. Attackers can leverage these injection techniques to extract user credentials, personal information, transaction records, and other sensitive data stored within the AbanteCart database. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to modify or delete database contents, potentially causing system downtime or data corruption that could severely impact business operations and customer trust.
Organizations utilizing AbanteCart 1.4.2 must implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability, including applying the vendor-provided patch or upgrade to a secure version that resolves the parameter handling issue. Input validation and sanitization measures should be strengthened at the application level to prevent malicious payloads from reaching database execution layers. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to detect and block exploitation attempts. Security monitoring should be enhanced to identify unusual database query patterns that may indicate injection attempts, while regular vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other application components. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection flaws as critical weaknesses in software systems, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications.
The presence of multiple exploitation techniques within this single vulnerability demonstrates the comprehensive nature of the weakness and underscores the importance of addressing the root cause through proper parameter validation rather than implementing reactive patches. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their web applications to identify similar injection vulnerabilities that may exist in other components, as SQL injection remains one of the most prevalent and dangerous classes of web application vulnerabilities. Regular security training for development teams on secure coding practices and input validation methodologies can help prevent similar issues from emerging in future application versions and maintain overall system security posture.