Apache OFBiz is a widely used, open-source enterprise automation software designed to help businesses create, launch, and maintain applications with ease. Recently, a significant vulnerability (CVE-2024-45195) has been discovered in older versions of Apache OFBiz that allows attackers to exploit Direct Request behavior, commonly known as "Forced Browsing." This blog post will discuss the details of the vulnerability, its impact, and the mitigation steps that users need to take to protect their systems.

Vulnerability Details

The vulnerability in question, CVE-2024-45195, is a Direct Request ('Forced Browsing') vulnerability in Apache OFBiz. It affects Apache OFBiz versions before 18.12.16 and allows an attacker to bypass authorization mechanisms and gain unauthorized access to restricted functionality by traversing the file system.

A direct request, or forced browsing, occurs when an attacker can request specific resources on a web application by manually entering a URL, bypassing any access control measures in place. This issue allows an attacker to access sensitive information, potentially leading to unauthorized modification of data or further exploits.

Code Snippet Example

As an example, let's assume a web application on Apache OFBiz containing a restricted resource /admin/secret. An attacker bypassing access control measures would construct a URL similar to the following:

http://target.example.com/ofbiz/admin/secret

By directly entering this URL, they could potentially gain unauthorized access to the /admin/secret resource.

The vulnerability has been officially documented in the Apache OFBiz Security Advisories and various reputable sources, including:

1. Official Apache OFBiz Security Advisory: https://ofbiz.apache.org/security-advisories
2. National Vulnerability Database (NVD) Entry: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-45195
3. MITRE CVE List: https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2024-45195

Exploit Details

As of now, there are no known public exploits specifically targeting the CVE-2024-45195 vulnerability. However, attackers often use automated scanners to search for vulnerable systems and perform reconnaissance on potential victims. Any unpatched Apache OFBiz instances running versions before 18.12.16 are at risk of exploitation.

Mitigation

To mitigate and protect against this vulnerability, users are advised to upgrade to Apache OFBiz version 18.12.16 or later, which includes a fix for the issue. The latest version of OFBiz can be downloaded from the official project website: https://ofbiz.apache.org/download.html

Upgrading your OFBiz instance ensures that any exposed endpoints with inadequate security measures are protected, and unauthorized access to sensitive resources is prevented.

Furthermore, we recommend that you continuously monitor and apply security patches and updates regularly to your web applications, infrastructure, and underlying technology stacks. Properly securing your web applications and systems is essential to safeguarding sensitive information and minimizing potential attack surfaces.

Conclusion

The direct request ('forced browsing') vulnerability in Apache OFBiz can be a severe threat if left unpatched. Be sure to upgrade to the latest version of Apache OFBiz and apply security best practices to protect your systems from future exploits.

Timeline

Published on: 09/04/2024 09:15:04 UTC
Last modified on: 09/06/2024 15:35:05 UTC