CVE-2015-1397 in Magento
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the getCsvFile function in the Mage_Adminhtml_Block_Widget_Grid class in Magento Community Edition (CE) 1.9.1.0 and Enterprise Edition (EE) 1.14.1.0 allows remote administrators to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the popularity[field_expr] parameter when the popularity[from] or popularity[to] parameter is set.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/29/2025
The CVE-2015-1397 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw within the Magento e-commerce platform ecosystem affecting both community and enterprise editions. This vulnerability resides within the Mage_Adminhtml_Block_Widget_Grid class specifically in the getCsvFile function, which serves as a critical component for generating csv export files from administrative grids. The flaw manifests when administrative users access certain grid interfaces that support csv export functionality, making it particularly dangerous as it targets privileged administrative accounts rather than general users. The vulnerability's exploitation requires a remote attacker to possess valid administrative credentials, but the impact remains severe due to the elevated privileges these accounts hold.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input sanitization within the popularity[field_expr] parameter processing. When the popularity[from] or popularity[to] parameters are manipulated alongside the field_expr parameter, the application fails to properly escape or validate user-supplied data before incorporating it into sql query construction. This creates a classic sql injection vector where malicious input can alter the intended query structure and execute arbitrary sql commands against the underlying database. The vulnerability specifically affects the grid export functionality, which is commonly used by administrators to analyze sales data, customer information, and other business-critical metrics. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation practices and inadequate parameter handling within the administrative grid component, directly violating secure coding principles.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data theft or modification. An attacker with administrative access can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary sql commands, potentially leading to complete database compromise, data exfiltration, and system infiltration. The vulnerability enables attackers to perform unauthorized data manipulation, create backdoor accounts, modify product catalogs, access customer information, and potentially escalate privileges within the application. Given that this affects the grid export functionality, attackers could systematically extract large volumes of sensitive business data, including customer personal information, financial records, and inventory details. The vulnerability also poses significant risk to business continuity and regulatory compliance, particularly for organizations subject to data protection regulations such as gdpr or pci dss standards.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches released for Magento versions 1.9.1.0 and 1.14.1.0, which address the input validation issues in the getCsvFile function. Network segmentation and privileged access controls should be enforced to limit administrative access to only necessary personnel, reducing the attack surface. Regular security audits of administrative interfaces and input validation mechanisms should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 sql injection weakness and maps to ATT&CK technique T1071.004 application layer protocol, specifically targeting web application security controls. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring solutions to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Regular security training for administrative users and adherence to principle of least privilege should be enforced to minimize potential impact from such vulnerabilities.