CVE-2015-3458 in Magento
Summary
by MITRE
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 does not restrict the stream wrapper used in a template path, which allows remote administrators to include and execute arbitrary PHP files via the phar:// stream wrapper, related to 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-2015-3458 vulnerability resides within the Mage_Core_Block_Template_Zend class of Magento Community and Enterprise editions, specifically affecting versions 1.9.1.0 and 1.14.1.0 respectively. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that enables remote code execution through improper handling of stream wrappers in template path resolution. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it leverages the phar:// stream wrapper, which is a powerful feature in PHP that allows reading phar archives as if they were regular files. When the fetchView function processes template paths without adequate validation of stream wrappers, it creates an opening for malicious actors to exploit.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the setScriptPath function, which is responsible for determining template file locations. This function fails to properly sanitize or restrict the types of stream wrappers that can be utilized when resolving template paths. The phar:// stream wrapper becomes particularly dangerous because it can execute PHP code contained within phar archives, effectively allowing attackers to bypass normal file inclusion restrictions. When combined with the fetchView function's lack of stream wrapper restrictions, an attacker can craft malicious template paths that leverage phar archives to execute arbitrary PHP code on the target system.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses a severe threat to Magento installations as it potentially allows remote administrators to execute arbitrary code on the web server. The attack vector requires an attacker to have administrative privileges within the Magento application, which aligns with the note in the CVE description about unclear privilege boundaries. However, even with administrative access, this vulnerability provides a method to escalate privileges or bypass normal security controls by including and executing malicious PHP files. The implications extend beyond simple code execution to include potential data breaches, system compromise, and complete server takeover scenarios.
Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability in the context of CWE-22, which addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, and CWE-94, which covers improper control of generation of code. The ATT&CK framework would classify this as a code injection technique under T1059, specifically involving the execution of malicious code through template manipulation. Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of affected Magento versions, implementation of strict input validation for template paths, and restriction of stream wrapper usage in PHP configurations. Organizations should also consider network-level restrictions, web application firewalls, and comprehensive monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of validating all user-supplied input and implementing proper access controls to prevent unauthorized code execution in web applications.