CVE-2024-56526 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting OXID eShop versions prior to 7. The issue arises from the way CMS pages are processed when combined with the Smarty templating engine. Specifically, if a CMS page contains a Smarty syntax error, it may inadvertently expose sensitive user information. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-200, which relates to information exposure. The vulnerability does not require authentication or user interaction to be exploited, and it can be triggered remotely over the network. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.5, reflecting a high impact on confidentiality with no impact on integrity or availability. The attack vector is network-based with low attack complexity and no privileges required. The scope remains unchanged, meaning the vulnerability affects the same security scope as the vulnerable component. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the potential for sensitive user data leakage makes this a significant concern for organizations using OXID eShop. The lack of a patch link suggests that a fix may not yet be publicly available or is pending release. Organizations relying on OXID eShop CMS pages with Smarty templates should be aware that malformed or erroneous Smarty syntax in CMS pages can lead to unintended data disclosure, potentially exposing personal or sensitive user information to unauthenticated attackers.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be substantial, especially for e-commerce businesses using OXID eShop as their platform. The exposure of user information can lead to privacy violations under the GDPR framework, resulting in legal penalties and reputational damage. Confidential customer data leakage can facilitate further attacks such as phishing, identity theft, or fraud. Since the vulnerability does not affect integrity or availability, the primary concern is unauthorized data disclosure. The ease of exploitation without authentication increases the risk of automated scanning and exploitation attempts by malicious actors. This could lead to widespread data exposure if not promptly addressed. Additionally, organizations may face customer trust erosion and financial losses due to potential regulatory fines and remediation costs. The vulnerability's presence in a widely used e-commerce platform amplifies its potential impact across multiple sectors including retail, services, and digital marketplaces within Europe.

To mitigate CVE-2024-56526, European organizations should take the following specific actions: 1) Immediately audit all CMS pages using Smarty templates for syntax errors and correct any malformed code to prevent accidental data exposure. 2) Implement strict input validation and error handling within the CMS to ensure that Smarty syntax errors do not propagate sensitive information in error messages or page outputs. 3) Monitor and restrict access to CMS editing interfaces to trusted personnel only, reducing the risk of introducing vulnerable content. 4) Apply any available patches or updates from OXID eShop as soon as they are released; if no patch is currently available, consider temporary workarounds such as disabling Smarty template rendering on CMS pages or isolating sensitive user information from CMS content. 5) Conduct regular security assessments and penetration tests focusing on CMS and template rendering components to detect similar vulnerabilities proactively. 6) Enhance logging and monitoring to detect unusual access patterns or data leakage attempts related to CMS pages. 7) Educate developers and content managers on secure template coding practices and the risks of syntax errors in templating engines.