CVE-2019-8156 in Magento
Summary
by MITRE
A server-side request forgery (SSRF) vulnerability exists in Magento 2.2 prior to 2.2.10, Magento 2.3 prior to 2.3.3 or 2.3.2-p1. An authenticated user with admin privileges to modify store configurations can manipulate the connector api endpoint to enable remote code execution.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/05/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-8156 represents a critical server-side request forgery flaw that affects Magento e-commerce platforms across multiple versions. This vulnerability resides within the configuration management system of Magento, specifically targeting the connector api endpoint that handles external service integrations. The flaw allows for unauthorized access to internal network resources through manipulated requests that bypass normal security controls, creating a significant attack surface for malicious actors who can leverage this weakness to escalate their privileges and execute arbitrary code on the affected system. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only administrative privileges to exploit, making it accessible to users who already have elevated access rights within the application.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the Magento configuration handling modules. When administrators modify store configurations through the web interface, the application fails to properly validate the URLs and endpoints specified in the connector settings. This weakness enables attackers to craft malicious requests that redirect the application to internal services or external malicious endpoints, allowing them to perform unauthorized data retrieval or service manipulation. The vulnerability is classified as a CWE-918 Server-Side Request Forgery, which specifically addresses the issue of unvalidated requests being sent from a server to other internal or external systems. The attack vector typically involves manipulating configuration parameters that control external API endpoints, where the application subsequently makes HTTP requests without proper validation of the target destinations.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-8156 extends beyond simple data theft or service disruption, as it enables full remote code execution capabilities for authenticated administrators. This means that an attacker with administrative access can potentially gain complete control over the affected Magento installation, including the ability to modify or delete critical system files, access sensitive customer data, and establish persistent backdoors. The vulnerability also poses significant risks to the broader network infrastructure since it can be used to scan internal network services, potentially exposing additional systems that would otherwise be protected by network segmentation. Organizations running vulnerable Magento versions face severe consequences including data breaches, regulatory penalties, and loss of customer trust, particularly given that the vulnerability affects widely used e-commerce platforms that handle sensitive transactional data. The attack can be executed through standard web application penetration testing methodologies and typically requires minimal specialized tools, making it accessible to a broad range of threat actors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-8156 should focus on immediate patching of affected Magento versions to the recommended secure releases including Magento 2.2.10, 2.3.3, or 2.3.2-p1. Organizations should also implement network-level restrictions to prevent internal service access from the web application server, particularly blocking outbound connections to internal IP ranges and ports that are not explicitly required for legitimate business operations. Additional protective measures include implementing strict input validation for all configuration parameters, monitoring for unusual API endpoint access patterns, and establishing principle of least privilege access controls for administrative accounts. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor and block suspicious requests targeting the vulnerable connector endpoints. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 Command and Scripting Interpreter, where adversaries can execute code through compromised administrative accounts, and T1071.004 Application Layer Protocol, as the attack utilizes HTTP protocols to manipulate the application's behavior. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues within the application's configuration management modules and ensure comprehensive protection against similar server-side request forgery attacks.