CVE-2015-1399 in Magento
Summary
by MITRE
PHP remote file inclusion vulnerability in the fetchView function in the Mage_Core_Block_Template_Zend class in Magento Community Edition (CE) 1.9.1.0 and Enterprise Edition (EE) 1.14.1.0 allows remote administrators to execute arbitrary PHP code via a URL in unspecified vectors involving the setScriptPath function. NOTE: it is not clear whether this issue crosses privilege boundaries, since administrators might already have privileges to include arbitrary files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2022
The CVE-2015-1399 vulnerability represents a critical remote file inclusion flaw within the Magento e-commerce platform ecosystem that fundamentally undermines the security posture of affected installations. This vulnerability resides within the Mage_Core_Block_Template_Zend class, specifically within the fetchView function that handles template rendering operations. The flaw manifests when the setScriptPath function processes user-supplied URLs, creating an avenue for remote code execution that can be exploited by malicious actors with administrative privileges. The vulnerability affects both Magento Community Edition version 1.9.1.0 and Enterprise Edition version 1.14.1.0, indicating it was present in major platform releases that many organizations relied upon for their online commerce operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages the inherent trust placed in administrative functions within the Magento framework, where legitimate administrators can inadvertently enable remote code execution through improper input validation. When the fetchView function processes template paths, it fails to adequately sanitize or validate URL inputs that may be passed through the setScriptPath mechanism, allowing attackers to inject malicious file paths that ultimately resolve to executable PHP code. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-98 category of Improper Input Validation, specifically manifesting as a remote file inclusion vulnerability that enables arbitrary code execution. The attack vector typically involves an attacker with administrative access to construct malicious URLs that bypass normal file inclusion restrictions, potentially allowing full system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-1399 extends beyond simple code execution, as it represents a privilege escalation vulnerability that can enable attackers to gain complete control over affected Magento installations. Organizations running vulnerable versions of Magento face significant risks including data breaches, unauthorized access to customer information, and potential compromise of entire web infrastructures. The vulnerability's potential to cross privilege boundaries, as noted in the original description, means that even if an attacker initially lacks administrative privileges, they may be able to leverage this flaw to escalate their access level. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, where adversaries use web shells or malicious scripts to maintain persistence and execute commands on compromised systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-1399 require immediate action from affected organizations, beginning with the application of official security patches provided by Magento. The vulnerability can be addressed through the upgrade to patched versions of Magento Community and Enterprise Editions, which implement proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the fetchView function. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit administrative privileges, ensuring that only trusted users can access administrative functions. Additionally, web application firewalls should be configured to monitor and block suspicious URL patterns that may indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability. Security monitoring should include detection of anomalous file inclusion patterns and unusual administrative activities that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and the principle of least privilege in web application security, as highlighted in various security frameworks including OWASP Top 10 and NIST cybersecurity guidelines.