A critical vulnerability (CVE-2024-41874) has been identified in ColdFusion versions 2023.9, 2021.15, and earlier, which could potentially lead to arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability stems from a Deserialization of Untrusted Data issue. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by providing maliciously crafted input that, when deserialized, will result in the execution of arbitrary code within the application environment.

In this post, we will analyze the vulnerability, explore the code snippet that demonstrates the problem, and provide links to the original references and exploit details. The aim of this text is to shed light on this critical matter and alert developers, administrators, and end-users who may be affected by it.

Vulnerability Details

The vulnerability lies in the deserialization of untrusted data, which could lead to arbitrary code execution. When an application deserializes data from an untrusted source, the deserialization process can potentially include arbitrary objects that carry malware or malicious code. Consequently, this could enable an attacker to manipulate the application's data flow, bypass security features, or even execute arbitrary code.

Exploitation of this vulnerability does not require user interaction. Therefore, it is crucial for administrators and developers to apply security patches or updates provided by ColdFusion or third-party security vendors.

The code snippet below demonstrates how the vulnerability can be triggered

public class DeserializeExploit {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        byte[] maliciousInput = getMaliciousSerializedData();
        deserialize(maliciousInput);
    }

    private static byte[] getMaliciousSerializedData() {
        // Craft malicious input that can exploit the deserialization issue.
        // This may include exploiting known deserialization gadgets or creating custom gadgets.
        // ...
    }

    private static void deserialize(byte[] inputData) {
        try (ObjectInputStream inputStream = new ObjectInputStream(new ByteArrayInputStream(inputData))) {
            // Deserialize without validating the input source, leading to potential arbitrary code execution.
            Object deserializedData = inputStream.readObject();
            // ...
        } catch (IOException | ClassNotFoundException e) {
            // Handle exceptions
            // ...
        }
    }
}

In this example, the deserialize() method is called with malicious input obtained from the getMaliciousSerializedData() method. This input contains crafted data that, when deserialized, results in arbitrary code execution.

Original References and Exploit Details

For more details on the CVE-2024-41874 vulnerability, you can refer to the official advisory provided by ColdFusion:

- ColdFusion Security Advisory (APSB22-XX)

Additionally, the exploit details and in-depth analysis are available in the following resources

- National Vulnerability Database (NVD) CVE-2024-41874
- MITRE's Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) Detailed Report

Conclusion

The critical vulnerability CVE-2024-41874 is prevalent in ColdFusion versions 2023.9, 2021.15, and earlier and could potentially lead to arbitrary code execution. It is essential for developers, administrators, and users to take immediate action by applying relevant security patches or updates, followed by thorough security testing and evaluation of their ColdFusion applications.

Timeline

Published on: 09/13/2024 10:15:12 UTC
Last modified on: 09/16/2024 12:56:15 UTC