Recently, a significant security vulnerability has been identified in ProjectSend, a free, open-source file sharing program used extensively over the Internet. This flaw, designated as CVE-2024-11680, has the potential to impact many users by allowing unauthorized access to their application configurations, potentially leading to account creation, file uploads, and malicious JavaScript abuse. The following post will detail this vulnerability and provide insights into how to protect yourself from potential exploits.

Details

The CVE-2024-11680 vulnerability affects ProjectSend versions prior to r172 and relies on improper authentication to gain unauthorized access. Remote, unauthenticated attackers can exploit this flaw by sending crafted HTTP requests to the 'options.php' file, which bypasses authentication and opens up unauthorized access. This unauthorized access allows attackers to create new accounts, upload files (such as webshells), and embed malicious JavaScript.

To better understand the issue, let's take a look at a code snippet from 'options.php' that is the primary source of the vulnerability:

if (!check_for_session()) {
    header("Location: " . BASE_URI);
}

The 'check_for_session()' function in the snippet above fails to validate user sessions correctly, leaving the door wide open for attackers to exploit.

Exploit Details

To exploit the CVE-2024-11680 vulnerability, an attacker must bypass the authentication process, which can be done by using a tool like 'curl' to send malicious HTTP POST requests that target 'options.php.' Here's an example of an HTTP POST request that exploits this vulnerability:

POST /options.php HTTP/1.1
Host: vulnerable-website.com
Content-Length: 39
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded

csrf_request=false&PASS_REQ=false&lang=en

When this HTTP POST request reaches the target website, it will exploit the vulnerability to create an account, upload a webshell, and embed malicious JavaScript. It's essential to note that this vulnerability does not require any technical skills to exploit it, making it relatively easy for any attacker to abuse.

Original References

1. CVE-2024-11680: This link provides the official information about the CVE-2024-11680 vulnerability, including a detailed description, its affected versions, and other relevant details.
2. ProjectSend GitHub Repository: The official GitHub repository for ProjectSend, where you can find all the source code, commit history, and other essential information about the project.
3. ProjectSend r172 Release Notes: The release notes for ProjectSend r172, which includes a fix for the CVE-2024-11680 vulnerability, as well as other security patches and enhancements.

Mitigation and Recommendations

To protect yourself from the CVE-2024-11680 vulnerability, it's recommended to update your ProjectSend installation to version r172 or later. This fixed version properly authenticates user sessions, eliminating the potential for unauthorized access.

In addition, it's essential to adopt secure coding practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring. This could include proper authentication and session validation in web applications. As a general rule, always stay up-to-date on security patches for your software dependencies to remain protected against new vulnerabilities and exploits.

Conclusion

CVE-2024-11680, a severe vulnerability in ProjectSend versions prior to r172, poses a significant risk to unsuspecting users due to its potential for unauthorized access and exploitability. By keeping this information in mind and updating your application accordingly, you can protect yourself and your users from this vulnerability. Always ensure to adopt secure coding practices and stay informed about new vulnerabilities to maintain a secure environment for your projects.

Timeline

Published on: 11/26/2024 10:15:04 UTC
Last modified on: 12/06/2024 18:42:17 UTC