CVE-2000-0101 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting the Make-a-Store OrderPage shopping cart application. This vulnerability arises because the application relies on hidden form fields to store sensitive purchase information, which can be manipulated by remote attackers. Since hidden form fields are stored client-side and can be easily modified by users with basic technical skills, an attacker can alter critical purchase parameters such as item prices, quantities, or product identifiers before the data is submitted back to the server. The vulnerability does not require authentication or user interaction beyond submitting a modified form, and it can be exploited remotely over the network. The CVSS score of 7.5 (AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P) reflects that the attack vector is network-based, with low attack complexity, no authentication required, and impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Although this vulnerability was published in 2000 and no patches are available, it remains a significant risk for any legacy systems still running the affected OrderPage application. The lack of patch availability means organizations must rely on compensating controls or application redesign to mitigate the risk. The vulnerability fundamentally stems from insecure design practices where trust is placed on client-side controls for critical transaction data, violating secure coding principles and enabling unauthorized modification of purchase information.

For European organizations using the Make-a-Store OrderPage shopping cart application, this vulnerability can lead to severe financial losses and reputational damage. Attackers can manipulate purchase data to reduce prices or alter orders, resulting in revenue loss and potential fraud. The integrity of transaction records is compromised, which can affect accounting and auditing processes. Confidential customer data may also be exposed or altered, raising privacy concerns and potential non-compliance with GDPR regulations. Availability impact, while less direct, could arise if attackers exploit the vulnerability to disrupt transaction processing or cause application errors. Given the vulnerability requires no authentication and can be exploited remotely, it poses a significant threat to e-commerce platforms relying on this software. European organizations in retail, e-commerce, and related sectors that have not upgraded or replaced this legacy software are particularly at risk. The vulnerability also undermines customer trust, which is critical in the competitive European digital marketplace.

Since no official patch is available for CVE-2000-0101, European organizations should implement the following specific mitigations: 1) Immediately discontinue use of the Make-a-Store OrderPage application and migrate to modern, actively maintained e-commerce platforms that enforce server-side validation and secure transaction processing. 2) If migration is not immediately feasible, implement strict server-side validation of all purchase-related data, ignoring or overriding any client-supplied hidden form fields to prevent tampering. 3) Employ application-layer firewalls or web application firewalls (WAFs) configured to detect and block anomalous form submissions or parameter tampering attempts targeting the shopping cart. 4) Conduct thorough code reviews and penetration testing focused on input validation and transaction integrity to identify and remediate similar weaknesses. 5) Enhance logging and monitoring to detect suspicious order modifications or unusual transaction patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. 6) Educate staff and customers about the risks of legacy software and encourage prompt reporting of any irregularities in order processing. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on compensating controls and strategic migration plans tailored to the specific vulnerability and its legacy context.