What Is Magecart?

Magecart refers to a collection of cybercriminal groups known for their digital card-skimming activities. These groups target e-commerce platforms by injecting malicious scripts into the checkout pages of websites, stealing sensitive payment information such as credit card details. The term “Magecart” originated from the group’s initial focus on Magento-based platforms, a popular open-source e-commerce system. However, Magecart attacks have since expanded to target various other platforms, including WordPress and Shopify.

Magecart attacks have significantly grown in frequency over the years due to the rise of online shopping. These attacks primarily aim to harvest credit card information and other personal data from users while they complete transactions on compromised websites. The consequences for businesses include loss of reputation, fines, and potential lawsuits, while consumers risk financial theft and identity fraud.

How Does Magecart Work?

Magecart attacks are typically executed by compromising a website, either through exploiting vulnerabilities or gaining access via phishing or weak credentials. Once inside, attackers inject malicious JavaScript code into the checkout page or payment form. This code works silently, capturing data entered by customers (e.g., card numbers, CVV, names, addresses) and sending it to the attackers’ servers.

There are several ways Magecart attackers compromise websites:

• Third-party Service Vulnerabilities: Many websites rely on third-party services such as plugins, chatbots, or analytics tools. Attackers target these external services to inject their malicious code, bypassing the main site’s security.
• Supply Chain Attacks: Magecart groups also target supply chains by injecting code into software libraries or content delivery networks (CDNs) used by multiple websites.
• Direct Website Compromise: Attackers may exploit vulnerabilities in e-commerce platforms, often targeting outdated or unpatched systems to inject the skimming script.

Major Magecart Attacks

Some of the most high-profile Magecart incidents include attacks on well-known brands like British Airways, Ticketmaster, and Newegg. These incidents resulted in the theft of millions of customers’ payment information and substantial fines for the affected companies.

• British Airways (2018): One of the most significant Magecart attacks targeted British Airways, compromising over 380,000 transactions. The attackers injected malicious code into the website’s payment page, stealing sensitive financial data from unsuspecting customers.
• Ticketmaster (2018): Another notable attack hit Ticketmaster, where attackers exploited a vulnerability in a third-party chatbot used on the website to skim payment details from customers.
• Newegg (2018): Similar to the British Airways attack, the Magecart group inserted malicious code into the payment page of Newegg’s website, stealing credit card information from customers making online purchases.

How to Detect Magecart Attacks

Detecting Magecart attacks can be challenging, as the malicious code often mimics legitimate scripts and operates silently in the background. However, there are several indicators and strategies organizations can use to identify potential skimming activity.

1. Monitoring JavaScript Changes: Regularly monitoring the JavaScript code on payment pages is critical. Any unauthorized changes to scripts, especially on checkout or payment processing pages, should be flagged for investigation.
2. Review Third-party Integrations: Since Magecart frequently exploits vulnerabilities in third-party services, organizations should continuously audit and review these services for security flaws.
3. Real-time Traffic Monitoring: Monitoring website traffic in real-time can help detect any suspicious activity, such as unusual requests or data being sent to unknown external servers.
4. Subresource Integrity (SRI) Implementation: SRI allows websites to ensure that external resources (like JavaScript files) have not been altered. If an external script has been tampered with, SRI prevents it from being executed.
5. Behavioral Analysis: Organizations can use security tools that employ behavioral analysis to detect abnormal user interactions and transaction anomalies, which may indicate a Magecart attack.
6. Use Content Security Policies (CSP): CSP is a browser security feature that helps detect and mitigate certain types of attacks, including cross-site scripting (XSS) and data injection attacks. Properly configured CSP can prevent unauthorized scripts from running on a website.

How to Mitigate Magecart Attacks

Mitigating Magecart attacks requires a combination of security best practices, proactive monitoring, and constant updates. Here are several strategies to help protect e-commerce platforms from Magecart attacks:

1. Regularly Patch and Update Systems: Ensure that all systems, especially e-commerce platforms, plugins, and third-party services, are kept up to date with the latest security patches. Many attacks exploit known vulnerabilities in outdated systems.
2. Limit Third-party Access: Reduce the use of third-party services on sensitive pages such as checkout and payment forms. If third-party services are necessary, ensure they follow strict security protocols and are regularly reviewed.
3. Implement Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Strengthen login security by requiring 2FA for administrators and users with elevated privileges. This adds an extra layer of protection and can help prevent unauthorized access.
4. Deploy Web Application Firewalls (WAFs): A WAF can block malicious requests, including those attempting to inject malicious scripts or exploit vulnerabilities. WAFs help filter and monitor HTTP traffic and protect websites from attacks.
5. Conduct Security Audits: Regular security audits, including penetration testing, can help identify vulnerabilities and weak points in a website’s security before attackers exploit them.
6. Encrypt Sensitive Data: Ensure all sensitive customer data, such as payment information, is encrypted both at rest and in transit. This makes it harder for attackers to steal or use the data, even if they gain access.
7. Monitor for Anomalies: Using security monitoring tools to detect abnormal activities, such as sudden changes in web traffic, unusual data transfers, or modifications to JavaScript code, can help organizations catch potential Magecart attacks early.

Conclusion

Magecart attacks represent a growing threat to e-commerce platforms and their customers. By understanding how Magecart operates, adopting proactive detection methods, and implementing security best practices, organizations can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to these cybercriminals. Regular audits, system updates, and third-party service reviews are crucial to maintaining a secure online presence in the face of evolving threats like Magecart.