CVE-2021-36023 in Magento Commerce
Summary
by MITRE • 09/06/2023
Magento Commerce versions 2.4.2 (and earlier), 2.4.2-p1 (and earlier) and 2.3.7 (and earlier) are affected by an XML Injection vulnerability in the Widgets Update Layout. An attacker with admin privileges can trigger a specially crafted script to achieve remote code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/02/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-36023 represents a critical XML injection flaw within Magento Commerce platforms that affects multiple version ranges including 2.4.2 and earlier, 2.4.2-p1 and earlier, and 2.3.7 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically targets the Widgets Update Layout functionality, which serves as a legitimate administrative feature for managing widget configurations within the Magento commerce platform. The flaw exists in how the system processes XML data when updating widget layouts, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to inject arbitrary XML content that can be executed within the application context.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the XML processing pipeline of Magento's administrative interface. When administrators interact with the widget update functionality, the system accepts XML data without adequate sanitization measures, allowing crafted XML payloads to be parsed and executed. This vulnerability operates under CWE-94, which categorizes it as an "Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')" where the injection occurs through XML parsing mechanisms rather than traditional code injection vectors. The attack vector requires an attacker to already possess administrative privileges, making this a privilege escalation vulnerability that can be leveraged to achieve remote code execution through carefully constructed XML payloads.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it transforms a legitimate administrative function into a potential remote code execution vector. Once an attacker gains administrative access, they can manipulate the widget update layout functionality to inject malicious XML code that executes with the privileges of the web application. This could result in complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and the establishment of persistent backdoors within the Magento environment. The vulnerability affects organizations using affected Magento versions and poses significant risk to e-commerce operations, particularly given that many organizations may have administrative accounts that are compromised through various attack vectors such as credential theft or social engineering.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-36023 should focus on immediate patching of affected Magento versions to the latest releases that contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces and enforce strict access controls using multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts. The implementation of web application firewalls and input validation measures can provide additional protection layers against malformed XML payloads. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their Magento installations and monitor for suspicious administrative activities that could indicate exploitation attempts. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.008 for the execution of malicious code through XML injection and T1566 for the initial compromise that leads to administrative access, emphasizing the need for layered defensive measures including privileged access management and continuous monitoring of administrative activities.