# CVE-2021-36023: Magento Commerce Widgets Update Layout XML Injection Vulnerability Could Lead To Remote Code Execution

> An admin attacker can inject malicious XML in Widgets Update Layout to achieve remote code execution in Adobe Commerce.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 6 Sep 2023
- **Updated:** 27 Feb 2025
- **Also known as:** BIT-magento-2021-36023, GHSA-8cjg-f53m-8m9q

## What is CVE-2021-36023?

CVE-2021-36023 is a critical code injection vulnerability in Magento Magento, published on 6 Sep 2023. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

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.

Weakness: CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-36023?

9 open source packages ship an affected version, including magento/community-edition, magento and magento/project-community-edition. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `magento/community-edition` | Packagist | All versions | None |
| `magento/community-edition` | Packagist | All versions | None |
| `magento/community-edition` | Packagist | All versions | 2.3.7-p1 |
| `magento/community-edition` | Packagist | All versions | 2.3.7-p1 |
| `magento/community-edition` | Packagist | From 2.4.2-p1 | 2.4.2-p2 |
| `magento/community-edition` | Packagist | From 2.4.2-p1 | 2.4.2-p2 |
| `magento` | Bitnami | All versions | 2.3.7, 2.4.2 |
| `magento/project-community-edition` | Packagist | All versions to 2.0.2 | None |
| `magento/project-community-edition` | Packagist | All versions to 2.0.2 | None |

Products: Magento Magento.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-36023?

Upgrade magento/community-edition to a fixed version for your release line: 2.3.7-p1 or 2.4.2-p2.

## Is CVE-2021-36023 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-36023 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Magento Magento

- [CVE-2020-9664](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-9664/): Magento php object injection vulnerability (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-9576](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-9576/): Magento command injection vulnerability (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-9578](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-9578/): Magento command injection vulnerability (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-9579](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-9579/): Magento Security mitigation bypass vulnerability (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-9580](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-9580/): Magento Security mitigation bypass vulnerability (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-36023 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-36023 is a critical code injection vulnerability in Magento Magento, published on 6 Sep 2023. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-36023 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- magento/community-edition (Packagist): affected all versions; no fix listed
- magento/community-edition (Packagist): affected all versions; no fix listed
- magento/community-edition (Packagist): affected all versions; fixed in 2.3.7-p1
- magento/community-edition (Packagist): affected all versions; fixed in 2.3.7-p1
- magento/community-edition (Packagist): affected from 2.4.2-p1; fixed in 2.4.2-p2
- magento/community-edition (Packagist): affected from 2.4.2-p1; fixed in 2.4.2-p2
- magento (Bitnami): affected all versions; fixed in 2.3.7, 2.4.2
- magento/project-community-edition (Packagist): affected all versions up to 2.0.2; no fix listed
- magento/project-community-edition (Packagist): affected all versions up to 2.0.2; no fix listed

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-36023/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-36023/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-36023
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-36023
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-36023

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-36023/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.