CVE-2014-8770 in magmi
Summary
by MITRE
Unrestricted file upload vulnerability in magmi/web/magmi.php in the MAGMI (aka Magento Mass Importer) plugin 0.7.17a and earlier for Magento Community Edition (CE) allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code by uploading a ZIP file that contains a PHP file, then accessing the PHP file via a direct request to it in magmi/plugins/.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/18/2025
The CVE-2014-8770 vulnerability represents a critical unrestricted file upload flaw in MAGMI version 0.7.17a and earlier, which is a popular Magento Community Edition plugin designed for mass data import operations. This vulnerability specifically affects the magmi.php web application component within the MAGMI framework, creating a dangerous pathway for attackers to gain unauthorized code execution capabilities. The flaw exists in the file upload validation mechanism that fails to properly sanitize or restrict the types of files that can be uploaded through the Magento platform's administrative interface. Attackers with authenticated access to the Magento admin panel can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious ZIP archives containing PHP scripts that bypass the upload restrictions, effectively enabling them to inject executable code into the target system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to first establish authenticated access to the Magento administrative interface, which typically involves compromising valid user credentials or exploiting other authentication bypass mechanisms. Once authenticated, the attacker can upload a specially crafted ZIP file through the MAGMI import functionality that contains PHP payload files. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and file type checking within the upload processing logic, allowing malicious files to be accepted and stored in the magmi/plugins/ directory without proper security screening. The ZIP file extraction process does not properly validate the contents or enforce strict file type restrictions, enabling PHP files to be placed directly in the web-accessible plugin directory where they can be executed by the web server.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected Magento installation and potentially the underlying server infrastructure. Successful exploitation allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands, steal sensitive customer data, modify product catalogs, inject malicious content, or establish persistent backdoors within the e-commerce platform. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by the fact that MAGMI is commonly used for routine data management tasks, making legitimate upload activities a perfect cover for malicious operations. Organizations using affected versions of Magento with MAGMI may experience unauthorized data breaches, financial losses, reputational damage, and compliance violations due to the exposure of sensitive customer information and payment data.
Security mitigations for CVE-2014-8770 should prioritize immediate version upgrades to MAGMI 0.7.18 or later, which includes proper file validation and upload restriction mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive file type validation that rejects executable file extensions and employs strict content analysis for uploaded archives. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit administrative access to the Magento platform, while implementing multi-factor authentication and regular credential rotation policies. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-434 Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type, which specifically addresses the security risks associated with accepting files without proper validation. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application and T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables attackers to execute malicious code through the web application interface. Regular security auditing, web application firewalls, and intrusion detection systems should be deployed to monitor for suspicious upload activities and prevent exploitation attempts.