CVE-2021-3291: Zencart/zencart Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-38f9-4vhq-9cr8
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CVSS 7.2
CWE-78
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2021-3291 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.2) remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')) affecting Zencart/zencart libraries in the Packagist ecosystem. The issue involves zen cart vulnerable to authenticated remote code execution. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.5.7c.

CVE-2021-3291 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2021-3291
GHSA Identifier GHSA-38f9-4vhq-9cr8
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.2
CWE Classification CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
Affected Product Zencart/zencart
Package Ecosystem Packagist
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.2

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required High (PR:H)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2021-3291

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Zencart/zencart dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

zencart/zencart fixed: 1.5.7c 
Upgrade zencart/zencart to 1.5.7c
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

inspect dependencies for zencart/zencart

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2021-3291, inspect your project dependencies for Zencart/zencart:

inspect dependencies for zencart/zencart

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Zencart/zencart in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.5.7c), your application is affected.

Note: Verify declared build manifests and deployed runtime container environments.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection'), where the product constructs all or part of an os command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended os command when it is sent to a downstream component. In Zencart/zencart, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

Zen Cart 1.5.7b allows admins to execute arbitrary OS commands by inspecting an HTML radio input element (within the modules edit page) and inserting a command.

CVE-2021-3291 Affected Zencart/zencart Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.5.7c
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
zencart/zencart
 Packagist
< 1.5.7c
1.5.7c

References

NVD — CVE-2021-3291 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-3291
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/zencart/zencart/commit/7447627f7148b11c614f89dab4a09d3f102b58af
Zencart/zencart Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/MucahitSaratar/zencart_auth_rce_poc
Zencart/zencart Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/zencart/zencart
Zencart/zencart Security Information SECURITY
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/161613/Zen-Cart-1.5.7b-Remote-Code-Execution.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2021-3291?
CVE-2021-3291 is a security vulnerability in Zencart/zencart involving Zen Cart vulnerable to authenticated remote code execution under CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection').
Which Zencart/zencart versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.5.7c across affected packages: zencart/zencart.
What version fixes CVE-2021-3291?
Upgrading to 1.5.7c (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is zencart/zencart affected?
Yes, zencart/zencart is affected in releases prior to 1.5.7c. Upgrade your dependency to 1.5.7c or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-3291?
CVE-2021-3291 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.2 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2021-3291?
CVE-2021-3291 is classified under CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') (The product constructs all or part of an OS command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended OS command when it is sent to a downstream component.).
How can I check Packagist dependencies for CVE-2021-3291?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for zencart/zencart'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-38f9-4vhq-9cr8",
  "modified" : "2023-07-07T13:56:21Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-24T17:40:23Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2021-3291" ],
  "summary" : "Zen Cart vulnerable to authenticated remote code execution",
  "details" : "Zen Cart 1.5.7b allows admins to execute arbitrary OS commands by inspecting an HTML radio input element (within the modules edit page) and inserting a command.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Packagist",
      "name" : "zencart/zencart"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.5.7c"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 1.5.7b"
    }
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-3291"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/zencart/zencart/commit/7447627f7148b11c614f89dab4a09d3f102b58af"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/MucahitSaratar/zencart_auth_rce_poc"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/zencart/zencart"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/161613/Zen-Cart-1.5.7b-Remote-Code-Execution.html"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-78" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-07-07T13:56:21Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2021-01-26T18:16:00Z"
  }
}