CVE-2023-38221 in Commerce
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
Adobe Commerce versions 2.4.7-beta1 (and earlier), 2.4.6-p2 (and earlier), 2.4.5-p4 (and earlier) and 2.4.4-p5 (and earlier) are affected by an Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') vulnerability that could lead in arbitrary code execution by an admin-privilege authenticated attacker. Exploitation of this issue does not require user interaction and attack complexity is high as it requires knowledge of tooling beyond just using the UI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/02/2023
Adobe Commerce versions 2.4.7-beta1 and earlier, 2.4.6-p2 and earlier, 2.4.5-p4 and earlier, and 2.4.4-p5 and earlier contain a critical SQL injection vulnerability classified as CVE-2023-38221. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of user input within SQL command construction processes, specifically manifesting as an improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands. The flaw falls under CWE-89 which defines SQL injection as the insertion of malicious SQL code into input fields for execution by the database. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can execute arbitrary code on the affected system with administrative privileges, representing a severe compromise of system integrity and data confidentiality.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's failure to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL queries. When authenticated administrators interact with certain administrative functions, the system processes input parameters without adequate validation or encoding mechanisms, allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL payloads. The attack requires an authenticated attacker with administrative privileges, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for valid accounts and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. The complexity of exploitation is elevated because attackers must possess administrative credentials and understand advanced SQL injection techniques beyond typical user interface interactions, making this a sophisticated attack vector that targets the administrative layer of the application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise to include complete system takeover capabilities. An attacker with administrative privileges could execute arbitrary commands, access sensitive customer data, modify or delete database records, and potentially establish persistent backdoors within the system. This vulnerability represents a critical threat to e-commerce operations as it could lead to financial losses, customer data breaches, and complete system compromise. The risk is particularly severe because the attack does not require user interaction and can be executed through legitimate administrative functions, making detection more challenging. Organizations using affected Adobe Commerce versions face potential regulatory compliance violations, reputational damage, and significant operational disruption if exploited successfully.
Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided patches and updates to remediate this vulnerability. The patch addresses the underlying SQL injection flaw by implementing proper input sanitization and parameterized query construction. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls can reduce the attack surface and limit potential exploitation. Security monitoring should focus on administrative account activities and unusual database query patterns. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring solutions to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in the application stack, while security awareness training for administrative users can help prevent credential compromise. The remediation process should include thorough testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce regressions in system functionality, and continuous monitoring should be maintained to detect any signs of exploitation attempts.