Revealing a Critical Vulnerability: The Price Manipulation Flaw

In the vibrant city of Pune, renowned for its rich cultural heritage and bustling streets, I embarked on a quest to procure an air purifier for myself. Little did I know that my journey would lead me to uncovering a critical vulnerability on a popular Indian startup’s website. Today, I share the story of a flaw that allowed me to manipulate product prices with ease.

Upon arriving at the website, whose name I am obliged not to disclose, I began my exploration. As an enthusiast in cybersecurity, my focus was on unraveling the intricacies of payment gateways. Fate smiled upon my endeavors as I stumbled upon a vulnerability lurking within the checkout process.

The vulnerability lay hidden within the POST request to the `/api/order/create` endpoint of the website. It was a flaw of significant proportions, granting attackers the ability to tinker with product prices during the checkout phase, potentially leading to financial repercussions for the company.

Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how I replicated the exploit:

Visit the website and select a product for purchase.
2. Fill in the necessary details for the transaction.
3. Intercept the request using Burp Suite.
4. Modify parameters such as “amount,” “price,” and “accPrice” to lower values.
5. Forward the manipulated request.
6. Complete the checkout process.

With a simple tweak of the parameters, I managed to reduce the price of the product from Rs. 49000.00 to a mere 1 INR. Yes, you read that right — a staggering reduction in price that underscored the severity of the vulnerability.

The flaw stemmed from the absence of proper validation mechanisms on the server-side, allowing attackers to bypass checks and alter prices at will. It was a glaring oversight, highlighting the importance of robust validation protocols in safeguarding against such exploits.

To mitigate the risk of similar attacks in the future, here are some secure measures that developers can implement:

1. Validate prices on the server-side to prevent tampering.
2. Cross-verify prices with the database to ensure consistency.
3. Refrain from transmitting sensitive pricing information via HTTP requests.

In conclusion, this discovery serves as a poignant reminder of the ever-present threats lurking in the digital landscape. As we strive for innovation and convenience, we mustn’t overlook the importance of security. Let this be a call to action for developers and businesses alike to fortify their defenses against vulnerabilities that threaten the integrity of our online transactions.

Thank you for joining me on this journey of exploration and revelation. Until next time, stay vigilant, stay secure.