CVE-2020-9632 in Magento
Summary
by MITRE
Magento versions 2.3.4 and earlier, 2.2.11 and earlier (see note), 1.14.4.4 and earlier, and 1.9.4.4 and earlier have a security mitigation bypass vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2020
This vulnerability affects multiple versions of the Magento e-commerce platform including 2.3.4 and earlier, 2.2.11 and earlier, 1.14.4.4 and earlier, and 1.9.4.4 and earlier. The issue represents a security mitigation bypass that allows attackers to circumvent intended protection mechanisms within the application. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user inputs and inadequate access controls that permit unauthorized modifications to critical system components. This flaw is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited to achieve arbitrary code execution, which provides attackers with complete control over the affected system. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-284 which describes improper access control mechanisms, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script injection. The security bypass occurs when the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied data that flows into system commands or execution contexts, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject and execute unauthorized code.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of input validation weaknesses in Magento's core framework components. Attackers can manipulate specific parameters within the application's request handling mechanisms to bypass intended security restrictions. When users submit data through web forms, API endpoints, or other input vectors, the system should validate and sanitize this information before processing. However, the vulnerability allows malicious inputs to pass through these validation checks, potentially leading to command injection scenarios. The flaw is particularly concerning because it affects multiple version lines of Magento, indicating a fundamental issue in the platform's security architecture rather than a simple patchable bug. This widespread impact suggests that the vulnerability exists in core components that are shared across different Magento versions, making it a critical concern for organizations running any of the affected releases.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to encompass complete system compromise and potential data breaches. Once an attacker achieves arbitrary code execution, they can install backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive customer data, modify product catalogs, and gain persistent access to the affected systems. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including web application interfaces, API endpoints, and administrative interfaces. Organizations running affected Magento versions face significant risk of financial loss, regulatory penalties, and reputational damage if exploited successfully. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that Magento is widely used in e-commerce environments where sensitive customer information, payment data, and business-critical operations are handled. The security bypass allows attackers to potentially escalate privileges and move laterally within affected networks, making it a particularly dangerous vulnerability for enterprise environments.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including applying the latest security patches released by Magento to address this vulnerability. The recommended approach involves upgrading to supported versions that contain the necessary security fixes and validation improvements. Additionally, organizations should implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts, particularly around API endpoints and administrative interfaces. Access controls should be strengthened through proper authentication mechanisms and least privilege principles to limit potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-284 emphasizes the importance of proper access control implementation and validation of all user inputs. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other potential security gaps in their Magento implementations and related systems. Regular security monitoring and incident response procedures should be established to quickly detect and respond to any exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability, as the ATT&CK framework suggests that command injection techniques are commonly used in advanced persistent threat campaigns.