CVE-2024-20720 in Commerce
Summary
by MITRE • 02/15/2024
Adobe Commerce versions 2.4.6-p3, 2.4.5-p5, 2.4.4-p6 and earlier are affected by an Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') vulnerability that could lead in arbitrary code execution by an attacker. Exploitation of this issue does not require user interaction.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2026
Adobe Commerce suffers from a critical operating system command injection vulnerability classified as cwe-77 that affects versions 2.4.6-p3, 2.4.5-p5, 2.4.4-p6 and earlier. This flaw resides in the application's handling of user-supplied input within os command execution contexts without proper sanitization or validation mechanisms. The vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious commands that get executed on the underlying operating system with the privileges of the web server process. Given that exploitation does not require user interaction, this represents a severe remote code execution threat that can be leveraged by attackers from any network location.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the application's command execution pathways. When user data is passed directly into system commands without proper escaping or encoding, malicious payloads can manipulate the intended execution flow to execute arbitrary code on the target system. This flaw typically occurs in areas where the application constructs shell commands using string concatenation or direct input injection without adequate security controls such as parameterized queries or command whitelisting.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to encompass complete system compromise and data breach scenarios. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain full control over the affected Adobe Commerce instance, potentially leading to unauthorized access to customer data, payment information, and sensitive business records. The vulnerability also enables lateral movement within network environments as attackers can use compromised systems as launch points for further attacks against connected infrastructure. Additionally, the presence of such a vulnerability may result in regulatory compliance violations and significant financial penalties under data protection regulations.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including applying the latest security patches released by Adobe to address this specific command injection vulnerability. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be configured to limit access to administrative interfaces and reduce attack surface exposure. Input validation controls must be strengthened throughout the application to prevent malicious payloads from reaching system command execution points. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual command execution patterns and potential exploitation attempts. Implementation of web application firewalls and runtime application self-protection technologies can provide additional defense layers against this type of attack vector.
This vulnerability aligns with several att&ck tactics including privilege escalation and persistence through command execution capabilities, while also mapping to cwe-77 as a fundamental os command injection weakness. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify similar injection vulnerabilities across their entire application portfolio and implement secure coding practices that prevent such flaws from occurring in future development cycles. Regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing should be maintained as ongoing processes to detect and remediate similar security weaknesses before they can be exploited by malicious actors.