CVE-2022-24879 is a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability affecting Shopware, an open-source e-commerce platform widely used for building online shops. The vulnerability exists in versions from 5.2.0 up to, but not including, 5.7.9. The root cause is improper CSRF token handling: under certain conditions, CSRF tokens were not regenerated and validated correctly. This flaw allows an attacker to craft malicious web requests that, when executed by an authenticated Shopware user (such as an administrator or shop manager), can perform unauthorized actions on their behalf without their consent. Typical CSRF attacks exploit the trust a web application places in the user's browser, enabling attackers to manipulate critical operations such as changing configurations, modifying product listings, or altering order data. The vulnerability does not require the attacker to have direct access to the victim's credentials, but it does require the victim to be authenticated and to interact with a malicious website or link. The issue was addressed in Shopware version 5.7.9, where token generation and validation were corrected. For users unable to upgrade immediately, Shopware provides a security plugin that can mitigate the risk by enhancing CSRF protections. No known exploits have been reported in the wild to date, but the vulnerability's presence in a widely deployed e-commerce platform makes it a potential target for attackers seeking to disrupt online retail operations or steal sensitive business data.

For European organizations using vulnerable versions of Shopware, this CSRF vulnerability poses a significant risk to the integrity and availability of their e-commerce operations. Attackers could exploit the flaw to perform unauthorized administrative actions, potentially leading to manipulation of product pricing, inventory, or order processing. This could result in financial losses, reputational damage, and customer trust erosion. Additionally, unauthorized changes might expose sensitive customer data or disrupt service availability, impacting compliance with data protection regulations such as GDPR. Given the widespread adoption of Shopware in Europe, especially among small to medium-sized enterprises, the vulnerability could be leveraged to target a broad range of businesses. The attack requires the victim to be authenticated and to interact with a malicious site, which may limit exploitation scope but does not eliminate risk, especially in environments where users frequently access multiple web resources. The lack of known exploits suggests limited active targeting so far, but the medium severity rating and the nature of the vulnerability warrant prompt attention to prevent future exploitation.

To mitigate this vulnerability effectively, European organizations should prioritize upgrading Shopware installations to version 5.7.9 or later, where the CSRF token handling is properly fixed. If immediate upgrade is not feasible, deploying the official Shopware security plugin is recommended as a temporary measure to enhance CSRF protections. Additionally, organizations should implement strict Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to reduce the risk of malicious script execution and consider employing SameSite cookie attributes to limit cross-origin requests. User education is also critical: training administrators and shop managers to avoid clicking on suspicious links or visiting untrusted websites while authenticated can reduce the likelihood of successful CSRF attacks. Monitoring web server logs for unusual POST requests or changes in administrative settings can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Finally, integrating Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules tailored to detect and block CSRF attack patterns can provide an additional layer of defense.