CVE-2019-25496: osCommerce SQL Injection Vulnerability

CVE-2019-25496 Overview

osCommerce 2.3.4.1 contains a SQL injection vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to manipulate database queries by injecting SQL code through the products_id parameter. Attackers can modify the products_id value in product_info.php requests and append boolean-based SQL injection payloads to extract sensitive database information.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can extract sensitive data from the backend database, potentially including customer information, payment details, and administrative credentials stored in the osCommerce database.

Affected Products

• osCommerce 2.3.4.1
• osCommerce e-commerce platform installations using vulnerable versions

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-02-27 - CVE-2019-25496 published to NVD
• 2026-03-04 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2019-25496

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL injection vulnerability (CWE-89) exists in the osCommerce 2.3.4.1 e-commerce platform due to improper input validation of the products_id parameter in the product_info.php script. The vulnerability allows attackers to inject arbitrary SQL code into database queries without requiring authentication, enabling unauthorized access to sensitive information stored in the database.

The attack can be conducted remotely over the network with low complexity, requiring no special privileges or user interaction. The vulnerability primarily impacts data confidentiality by allowing attackers to extract sensitive database contents, with some potential for data integrity compromise through unauthorized database modifications.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is improper input sanitization in the product_info.php file. The products_id parameter is passed directly into SQL queries without adequate validation or parameterization, allowing attackers to break out of the intended query structure and inject malicious SQL commands.

Attack Vector

The attack is conducted over the network by manipulating the products_id parameter in HTTP requests to product_info.php. Attackers craft specially formed requests containing boolean-based SQL injection payloads appended to the products_id value.

The vulnerability can be exploited using boolean-based blind SQL injection techniques, where attackers infer database contents by observing differences in application responses based on true/false conditions in the injected SQL. Additional technical details about exploitation can be found in the Exploit-DB #46329 advisory and the VulnCheck Advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2019-25496

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual or malformed products_id parameter values in web server access logs containing SQL syntax characters
• Multiple requests to product_info.php with varying payloads from the same source IP
• Database query errors or anomalies in application logs indicating SQL syntax errors
• Unexpected data exfiltration patterns from the database server

Detection Strategies

• Monitor web application firewall (WAF) logs for SQL injection attack patterns targeting the products_id parameter
• Implement intrusion detection rules to identify boolean-based SQL injection payloads in HTTP requests
• Review web server access logs for requests containing common SQL injection characters such as single quotes, UNION statements, and OR conditions

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for the osCommerce application and underlying database
• Configure real-time alerting for SQL injection patterns in web traffic
• Monitor database query execution for anomalous queries or unauthorized data access patterns
• Deploy SentinelOne Singularity Platform for comprehensive endpoint detection and response capabilities

How to Mitigate CVE-2019-25496

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade osCommerce to the latest available version that addresses this vulnerability
• Implement input validation and parameterized queries for the products_id parameter
• Deploy a web application firewall (WAF) with SQL injection protection rules
• Review database access logs for signs of prior exploitation

Patch Information

Check the osCommerce Official Site for the latest security patches and updates. Organizations should update to a patched version of osCommerce that properly sanitizes the products_id parameter before including it in database queries.

Workarounds

• Implement a web application firewall (WAF) rule to block requests containing SQL injection patterns in the products_id parameter
• Add server-side input validation to ensure products_id values are strictly numeric integers
• Consider restricting access to product_info.php through IP whitelisting if direct public access is not required
• Apply the principle of least privilege to database accounts used by the osCommerce application

# Example WAF rule pattern to block SQL injection in products_id
# ModSecurity example rule
SecRule ARGS:products_id "(?i)(union|select|insert|update|delete|drop|--|;|'|\")" \
    "id:1001,phase:2,deny,status:403,msg:'SQL Injection attempt in products_id'"