CVE-2021-28567 in Magento
Summary
by MITRE • 09/09/2021
Magento versions 2.4.2 (and earlier), 2.4.1-p1 (and earlier) and 2.3.6-p1 (and earlier) are vulnerable to an Improper Authorization vulnerability in the customers module. Successful exploitation could allow a low-privileged user to modify customer data. Access to the admin console is required for successful exploitation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/11/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-28567 represents a critical authorization flaw within the Magento e-commerce platform that affects multiple version ranges including 2.4.2 and earlier, 2.4.1-p1 and earlier, and 2.3.6-p1 and earlier. This issue resides within the customers module of the Magento framework, which serves as a fundamental component for customer management and data handling across the platform. The flaw specifically manifests as an improper authorization condition that allows attackers to bypass expected access controls and manipulate customer information. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it enables low-privileged users to perform actions that should typically be restricted to administrators or authorized personnel with elevated permissions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation mechanisms within the customer data modification pathways. When users attempt to access or modify customer records through the Magento interface, the system fails to properly verify whether the requesting user possesses sufficient authorization rights to perform the requested operations. This authorization bypass occurs at the application level within the customer management module, where the platform does not adequately enforce role-based access controls or permission checks. The flaw essentially allows unauthorized access to customer data modification functions that should be restricted to administrative users, creating a pathway for privilege escalation and unauthorized data manipulation.
From an operational perspective, the impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data modification capabilities. Successful exploitation enables attackers to alter customer account information, potentially including personal details, billing addresses, shipping information, and authentication credentials. This capability creates significant risks for both the organization operating the Magento platform and the end customers whose data is compromised. The requirement for admin console access to successfully exploit this vulnerability means that attackers must first gain some level of access to the administrative interface, which could occur through various attack vectors such as credential compromise, phishing, or other initial access methods. However, once this initial access is achieved, the vulnerability allows for deeper exploitation of customer data management functions.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which specifically addresses improper authorization issues in software systems, and demonstrates how inadequate access control mechanisms can lead to unauthorized data manipulation. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability maps to several MITRE ATT&CK techniques including privilege escalation and credential access, as the ability to modify customer data often involves accessing sensitive information and potentially escalating privileges within the system. Organizations utilizing affected Magento versions should consider this vulnerability as part of a broader attack surface that includes potential credential theft, data exfiltration, and customer identity compromise. The security implications extend to compliance requirements and data protection regulations, as unauthorized modification of customer data could result in regulatory violations and significant financial penalties.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to patched versions of Magento that address this authorization flaw, implementing additional access controls and monitoring for unauthorized customer data modifications, and conducting thorough security assessments of their administrative access controls. The recommended remediation approach involves applying the vendor-provided security patches, enabling enhanced logging and monitoring for customer data access attempts, and implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts. Additionally, organizations should review their existing access control policies and ensure that proper segregation of duties is maintained between different user roles within the Magento system. Regular security testing and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar authorization issues that may exist within the broader application ecosystem.