Quick Guide to Magento Security Patches

Magento remains a popular ecommerce platform in 2025 and its security patches play a vital role in addressing vulnerabilities that could otherwise be exploited by attackers. These patches help prevent issues like data breaches, website defacement, or unauthorized access, ensuring the safety of customer data and store operations. Given the platform’s widespread use, staying updated with patches is not just recommended–it’s essential for maintaining trust and compliance.

In this guide, we’ll explain what Magento security patches are and why they matter, the difference between a hotfix and individual patch, how to install patches step-by-step, and how to keep yourself informed about new security updates from Adobe.

The importance of security patches

These specialized updates, or “hotfixes”, are released by Adobe to address specific security vulnerabilities discovered in the platform. Unlike individual patches and full version updates, these patches target particular security issues and are not focused on changing the core functionality or features of your store.

A prime example of the need for hotfixes is CVE-2024-34102, dubbed “CosmicSting”, a severe vulnerability affecting both Adobe Commerce and Magento Open Source. Disclosed in June 2024, this flaw demonstrates how technical weaknesses can impact online businesses. CosmicSting exploits an XML External Entity (XXE) injection combined with nested deserialization. Attackers craft malicious input that tricks Magento into accessing sensitive files or potentially executing code. The issue stems from how Magento handles serialized data; improper validation during deserialization allows attackers to insert malicious code. The attack’s “nested” nature (malicious XML within JSON) bypasses common security measures.

Impact ranges from data breaches to full system compromise, allowing attackers administrator-level control with the most common symptoms being malicious javascript injections within the cms_block table. It can also expose sensitive files and is particularly dangerous since it is unauthenticated, so attackers can target any vulnerable installation. The list goes on, but simply put, “CosmicSting” highlights that security patching is a must.

Hotfixes vs. individual patches

When Adobe releases patches for Magento, they generally fall into two categories:

Hotfixes:

• Urgent patches, available in the Security Center, focused exclusively on addressing critical security vulnerabilities or significant quality issues that impact a broad range of users.
• Applied to live systems to prevent potential system failures or security breaches and are subsequently included in the next scheduled patch release for the relevant minor version.
• May contain backward incompatible changes.

Individual Patches:

• Designed to resolve specific, low-impact quality issues and are applied to the most recently supported minor version.
• Released as needed.
• Are fully backward compatible for smoother integration with existing systems.

Step-by-step guide to installing Magento security patches

Before You Begin:

1. Back up your store – Always create a complete backup of your files and database before applying any patch.
2. Check compatibility – Verify that the patch is compatible with your Magento version.
3. Test in staging – If possible, apply the patch to a staging environment first.

Installation Method 1: Using Composer (Recommended for Magento 2.x)

1. Connect to your server via SSH.
2. Navigate to your Magento root directory.
3. Update your composer.json file:

   composer require magento/security-package:[version] --update-with-dependencies

4. Apply the update:

   php bin/magento setup:upgrade

5. Recompile code and deploy static content:

   php bin/magento setup:di:compile
   php bin/magento setup:static-content:deploy

6. Clear the cache in the Admin under System > Tools > Cache Management, or using the following command:

   php bin/magento cache:clean
   php bin/magento cache:flush

Installation Method 2: Manual Patch Application (Alternative Method)

1. Download the appropriate patch from the Adobe Security Center
2. Upload the patch to your Magento root directory.
3. Apply the patch using the following command:

   patch < patch_file_name.patch

4. Verify installation by checking for successful application messages.
5. Clear the cache in the Admin under System > Tools > Cache Management, or using the following command:

   php bin/magento cache:clean
   php bin/magento cache:flush

Staying updated with Magento security alerts

Keeping track of security updates is crucial for maintaining a secure Magento store. Here’s how to stay informed:

1. Subscribe to the Adobe Security Notification Service: Visit https://www.adobe.com/subscription/adbeSecurityNotifications.html to receive email alerts when new security patches are released.
2. Regularly check the Magento Security Bulletin: The Adobe Security Bulletin provides comprehensive information about the latest security updates and vulnerabilities.
3. Join the Magento community forums: Active participation in community discussions can provide early warnings about security issues.
4. Set up automated monitoring: Consider implementing a website security monitoring service to detect potential security issues early.

The critical role of security patches in website maintenance

While a website firewall provides essential protection against many attacks, it’s not a complete substitute for keeping your Magento installation patched and updated. Here’s why:

• Zero-day vulnerabilities: When new vulnerabilities are discovered, there’s often a window of time before firewall rules can be updated to block related attacks.
• Internal vulnerabilities: Firewalls primarily protect against external threats but can’t always prevent exploitation of internal system vulnerabilities.
• Application-specific issues: Some vulnerabilities exist within the application code itself and can only be fixed by applying the appropriate patch.
• Compliance requirements: PCI DSS and other compliance standards explicitly require keeping systems updated with security patches.

Wrapping up

Security patches are a vital component of Magento store maintenance. By promptly applying patches, staying informed about security alerts, and combining these practices with other security measures like malware scanning and firewall protection, you can significantly reduce the risk of your store being compromised.

Remember that security is an ongoing process, not a one-time task. Regular updates, vigilant monitoring, and a proactive approach to security will help keep your Magento store and customer data safe from increasingly sophisticated threats.

Need help securing your Magento store? Learn how our Website Security Platform can provide comprehensive protection beyond patches alone.