CVE-2026-54646 in CubeCart
Summary
by MITRE • 09/18/2026
CubeCart is an ecommerce software solution. Prior to 6.7.5, admin/sources/maintenance.index.inc.php places administrator-controlled tablename values into ALTER TABLE, CHECK TABLE, and ANALYZE TABLE statements without validating the identifiers or escaping embedded backticks. An authenticated administrator can terminate the quoted identifier with a closing backtick and introduce attacker-controlled structural SQL, potentially compromising database confidentiality, integrity, and availability within the application's database privileges. This issue is fixed in version 6.7.5.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/18/2026
CubeCart represents a widely utilized open-source ecommerce platform that facilitates online retail operations through its comprehensive suite of features for product management, order processing, and customer engagement. The software architecture relies heavily on relational databases to store critical business data including inventory levels, transaction records, and user credentials. Within this ecosystem, the administrative interface serves as the primary control panel for site owners and managers, granting access to maintenance tools that allow for database optimization and structural modifications. These administrative functions are essential for maintaining system performance but require strict security controls due to their elevated privileges within the application environment.
A critical vulnerability exists in versions of CubeCart prior to 6.7.5 specifically within the file admin/sources/maintenance.index.inc.php which handles maintenance operations such as table optimization and repair. The flaw stems from improper input validation when processing administrator-supplied table names for SQL commands including ALTER TABLE, CHECK TABLE, and ANALYZE TABLE statements. Instead of validating that the provided identifier conforms to expected alphanumeric patterns or escaping special characters appropriately, the application directly interpolates these values into the database query strings without sufficient sanitization. This lack of rigorous input validation allows an attacker who has obtained administrative credentials to manipulate the structure of SQL commands executed against the backend database server.
The technical mechanism of this exploitation involves terminating the quoted identifier using a closing backtick character and subsequently injecting arbitrary structural SQL syntax. Because CubeCart typically executes these queries with high-level database privileges, the injected code can perform actions beyond simple data retrieval or modification. An authenticated attacker could potentially drop tables to destroy application functionality, alter table structures to introduce malicious columns for future exploitation vectors, or execute commands that compromise the integrity of stored data. This capability directly impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability pillars of information security by allowing unauthorized structural changes to the database schema under the guise of routine maintenance operations.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which denotes Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command commonly known as SQL Injection. Specifically it represents a second-order or context-specific injection where the malicious payload is stored and later executed within a different command context that lacks adequate protection mechanisms. In terms of adversary behavior mapping, this technique corresponds to ATT&CK tactic T1059 which covers Command and Scripting Interpreter execution via database commands such as SQL queries. The ability to execute arbitrary structural changes through administrative interfaces highlights the risk associated with privilege escalation scenarios where initial access is gained through compromised credentials rather than direct exploitation of unauthenticated entry points.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond immediate data loss or system disruption. By compromising the database structure, an attacker can establish persistent backdoors within the application logic if they manage to inject malicious triggers or stored procedures that execute automatically upon specific events. This creates a long-term threat vector for ongoing surveillance and further exploitation even after initial access is detected and remediated at the web server level. Furthermore because ecommerce platforms handle sensitive financial information, any compromise of database integrity poses significant regulatory compliance risks under standards such as PCI DSS which mandate strict controls over data storage and processing environments to prevent unauthorized modifications or exfiltration.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve upgrading CubeCart to version 6.7.5 or later where the developers have implemented proper input validation and escaping mechanisms for table identifiers in maintenance scripts. Organizations running older versions should immediately apply patches provided by the vendor while simultaneously auditing administrative access logs for any suspicious activity indicative of exploitation attempts such as unusual patterns in table name parameters during maintenance windows. Additionally implementing strict role-based access controls to limit who can perform database maintenance operations reduces the attack surface available to potential adversaries. Regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on input validation across all administrative endpoints are recommended to identify similar weaknesses before they can be exploited by malicious actors targeting ecommerce infrastructure.