CVE-2016-4010 in Magento CE
Summary
by MITRE
Magento CE and EE before 2.0.6 allows remote attackers to conduct PHP objection injection attacks and execute arbitrary PHP code via crafted serialized shopping cart data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/14/2026
This vulnerability exists in Magento Community Edition and Enterprise Edition versions prior to 2.0.6, representing a critical remote code execution flaw that leverages PHP object injection techniques. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the shopping cart serialization mechanism, allowing attackers to inject malicious PHP objects that are subsequently unserialized during cart processing. This creates a direct pathway for remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code on the affected system, effectively bypassing normal security controls and potentially leading to complete system compromise. The flaw specifically targets the PHP serialization/unserialization process, where user-controllable data is improperly handled during cart object reconstruction.
The technical exploitation occurs when an attacker crafts malicious serialized data containing PHP objects that, upon being processed by the vulnerable Magento application, trigger unintended code execution. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-502, which specifically addresses "Deserialization of Untrusted Data" and represents one of the most dangerous categories of vulnerabilities in web applications. The attack vector is particularly insidious because it leverages legitimate application functionality rather than exploiting a separate vulnerability, making detection and prevention more challenging. Attackers can manipulate the shopping cart session data to include serialized objects that, when unserialized, execute malicious code with the privileges of the web application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, potentially allowing attackers to gain complete control over the affected Magento installation. Successful exploitation can lead to data breaches, unauthorized access to customer information, modification of product catalogs, and potential lateral movement within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely without authentication, making it particularly dangerous for e-commerce environments where customer shopping carts are frequently accessed. Organizations may experience significant financial losses, regulatory penalties, and reputational damage due to the potential for widespread data compromise. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1078 for valid accounts, as attackers can establish persistent access and execute commands through the compromised application.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected Magento installations to version 2.0.6 or later, where the serialization handling has been properly addressed. Organizations should implement robust input validation and sanitization measures for all user-controllable data, particularly session and cart data. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in shopping cart data processing. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls with rules specifically designed to detect and block malicious serialization patterns can provide additional defense layers. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, while maintaining up-to-date threat intelligence to stay ahead of evolving attack techniques targeting e-commerce platforms.