CVE-2024-58341: OpenCart Core SQL Injection Vulnerability

CVE-2024-58341 Overview

CVE-2024-58341 is a SQL Injection vulnerability affecting OpenCart Core version 4.0.2.3. This vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to manipulate database queries by injecting malicious SQL code through the search parameter in product search functionality. Attackers can exploit this flaw by sending crafted GET requests to the product search endpoint, enabling them to extract sensitive database information using boolean-based blind or time-based blind SQL injection techniques.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can extract sensitive database information including customer data, credentials, and administrative secrets without any prior authentication, potentially leading to full database compromise.

Affected Products

• OpenCart Core 4.0.2.3

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-03-25 - CVE CVE-2024-58341 published to NVD
• 2026-03-26 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-58341

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL Injection vulnerability (CWE-89) exists in the product search functionality of OpenCart Core 4.0.2.3. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input sanitization of the search parameter when processing product search queries. When a user submits a search request, the application constructs a SQL query using the provided search term without properly escaping or parameterizing the input.

The network-accessible nature of this vulnerability means that any attacker with HTTP access to the target OpenCart installation can attempt exploitation. No authentication is required, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for publicly accessible e-commerce sites. The vulnerability enables high confidentiality impact, allowing attackers to read arbitrary database contents including customer personal information, payment details, and administrative credentials.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper input validation and lack of parameterized queries in the search functionality. The search parameter value is incorporated directly into SQL statements without adequate sanitization, allowing specially crafted input to modify the intended query logic. This represents a classic SQL injection pattern where user-controllable data is concatenated into database queries rather than being properly escaped or bound as parameters.

Attack Vector

Exploitation occurs via network-based GET requests to the OpenCart product search endpoint. An attacker crafts malicious payloads in the search parameter that break out of the intended query context and inject additional SQL commands. The attack can leverage either boolean-based blind techniques (observing different application responses based on true/false conditions) or time-based blind techniques (using SQL SLEEP() or similar functions to infer data through response timing).

The attack requires no authentication or user interaction, and can be performed by any network-accessible attacker. Successful exploitation allows reading of database contents but has limited impact on data integrity and no direct impact on system availability.

For technical details on exploitation methodology, refer to the Exploit-DB #51940 entry and the Vulncheck OpenCart SQL Injection Advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-58341

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual or malformed search parameter values in web server access logs containing SQL keywords such as UNION, SELECT, SLEEP, BENCHMARK, or comment sequences (--, /*)
• Increased response times on product search requests indicating time-based blind SQL injection attempts
• Error messages in application logs related to SQL syntax errors from the search functionality
• Database query logs showing unexpected queries originating from search operations

Detection Strategies

• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block common SQL injection patterns in the search parameter
• Configure intrusion detection systems to alert on requests containing SQL metacharacters and keywords targeting the product search endpoint
• Enable detailed logging of all search queries and monitor for anomalous patterns
• Deploy application security monitoring to detect database error responses and unusual query execution times

Monitoring Recommendations

• Review web server access logs regularly for suspicious search parameter values
• Monitor database server performance metrics for unusual query patterns or execution times
• Set up alerting for SQL-related error messages in OpenCart application logs
• Track failed or malformed requests to the product search functionality

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-58341

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade OpenCart to the latest available version that addresses this vulnerability
• Implement input validation on the search parameter to allow only expected characters
• Deploy a Web Application Firewall with SQL injection protection rules in front of the OpenCart installation
• Review and restrict database user privileges to limit potential damage from successful exploitation

Patch Information

OpenCart users should check the GitHub OpenCart Release Notes for patched versions addressing this SQL injection vulnerability. Upgrade to the latest stable release as soon as possible. Organizations should test the upgrade in a staging environment before deploying to production.

Workarounds

• Implement WAF rules to filter malicious input in the search parameter as a temporary mitigation
• Consider temporarily disabling the product search functionality if not business-critical until patching is complete
• Restrict network access to the OpenCart installation using firewall rules or VPN requirements
• Enable rate limiting on search endpoints to slow down automated exploitation attempts

# Example ModSecurity WAF rule to block SQL injection in search parameter
SecRule ARGS:search "@rx (?i)(union|select|sleep|benchmark|or\s+1=1)" \
    "id:100001,phase:2,deny,status:403,log,msg:'SQL Injection attempt blocked in search parameter'"