CVE-2009-0541 in Magento
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Magento 1.2.0 and 1.2.1.1 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) the username field in an admin/ request to index.php, possibly related to the login[username] parameter and the app/code/core/Mage/Admin/Model/Session.php login function; (2) the email address field in an admin/index/forgotpassword/ request to index.php, possibly related to the email parameter and the app/code/core/Mage/Adminhtml/controllers/IndexController.php forgotpasswordAction function; or (3) the return parameter to the default URI under downloader/.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/04/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-0541 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Magento e-commerce platforms version 1.2.0 and 1.2.1.1. This vulnerability resides in the administrative interface of the Magento system, making it particularly dangerous as it could potentially allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to administrative functions and compromise the entire e-commerce platform. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the core Magento codebase, specifically within the administrative authentication and password recovery mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through three distinct attack vectors that all involve improper handling of user input in administrative contexts. The first vector targets the username field in admin requests processed through index.php, where the login[username] parameter in the Mage/Admin/Model/Session.php login function fails to properly sanitize input, allowing malicious scripts to be injected and executed in the context of authenticated admin sessions. The second vector exploits the email address field during password recovery processes, specifically within the app/code/core/Mage/Adminhtml/controllers/IndexController.php forgotpasswordAction function, where the email parameter is not adequately validated before being processed. The third vector targets the return parameter in the downloader URI, which represents a more complex attack surface involving the Magento Connect Manager interface. All three attack vectors demonstrate a common weakness in the application's input sanitization mechanisms and highlight the importance of proper context-aware output encoding.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-0541 is severe and multifaceted, potentially enabling attackers to execute arbitrary code within the administrative context of affected Magento installations. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to escalate privileges, modify product catalogs, manipulate customer data, access sensitive financial information, and potentially compromise the entire web application. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the system and can exploit it from anywhere on the internet. This represents a significant threat to e-commerce businesses as it could lead to data breaches, financial losses, and reputational damage. The vulnerability's presence in the administrative login and password recovery functions makes it particularly attractive to attackers seeking persistent access to systems.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 (Cross-site Scripting) and follows patterns commonly seen in web application security flaws. The attack vectors map directly to ATT&CK techniques related to credential access and privilege escalation through web application exploitation. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation measures including proper output encoding, implement Content Security Policy headers, and ensure that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being processed or displayed. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in web applications. The vulnerability also highlights the critical importance of keeping web applications updated with the latest security patches, as this issue was resolved in subsequent Magento versions through proper input validation and sanitization measures. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious activities in administrative interfaces to detect and prevent exploitation attempts.