CVE-2019-8232 in Magento
Summary
by MITRE
In Magento prior to 1.9.4.3, Magento prior to 1.14.4.3, Magento 2.2 prior to 2.2.10, and Magento 2.3 prior to 2.3.3 or 2.3.2-p1, an authenticated user with administrative privileges for the import feature can execute arbitrary code through a race condition that allows webserver configuration file modification.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/05/2024
This vulnerability exists in multiple versions of the Magento e-commerce platform, specifically affecting Magento 1.x versions prior to 1.9.4.3 and 1.14.4.3, as well as Magento 2.x versions prior to 2.2.10 and 2.3.3 or 2.3.2-p1. The flaw resides in the import feature's handling of webserver configuration files, creating a critical security risk for systems with administrative access. The vulnerability is classified as a race condition that allows authenticated administrative users to manipulate system files through the import functionality, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution. This represents a significant escalation of privileges from a standard administrative account to full system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a timing race condition during the import process where the webserver configuration files are modified. When an authenticated administrator uses the import feature, the system does not properly validate or secure the temporary files created during import operations. This allows an attacker with administrative privileges to manipulate the import process and inject malicious code into configuration files that are subsequently processed by the webserver. The race condition occurs because the system fails to properly synchronize file operations, creating a window where malicious input can be written to critical system files. This vulnerability falls under CWE-367, which describes time-of-check to time-of-use (TOCTOU) race conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables attackers with administrative access to gain full system control through the import functionality. Once exploited, an attacker can execute arbitrary code on the server with the privileges of the webserver process, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or further lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires only administrative privileges within the Magento application, which are often granted to users with legitimate business needs, making detection more difficult. The attack vector is relatively straightforward since it leverages existing administrative functionality rather than requiring additional exploitation techniques.
Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided patches for their respective Magento versions, as these updates address the race condition in the import feature by implementing proper file validation and synchronization mechanisms. System administrators should also implement network monitoring to detect unusual import activities and file modification patterns, particularly around webserver configuration files. Additional mitigations include restricting administrative access to the import feature, implementing proper file permission controls, and conducting regular security audits of the Magento installation. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure file handling practices and proper race condition prevention in web applications, particularly those handling user-provided data through administrative interfaces. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting and file integrity monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized modifications to critical system files.