CVE-2024-47580 - Exploiting Administrator Authentication to Expose Internal Server Files Through PDF Embedded Attachments

A newly disclosed vulnerability named CVE-2024-47580 allows an attacker with administrator authentication to exploit a webservice in order to create a PDF containing an embedded attachment. By specifying the embedded file to be an internal server file, the attacker can then download and read any file on the server without affecting its integrity or availability. This post will provide an in-depth analysis of the vulnerability, code snippets, links to original references, and exploit details.

Description and Impact

CVE-2024-47580 represents a very concerning security issue, because once the attacker has gained administrator authentication, they can easily exploit the exposed webservice to create a PDF with an embedded attachment. The key element of this exploit is that the attacker can specify the embedded file to be an internal server file. By doing so, they can download the generated PDF and read any file on the server with no adverse effect on the server's integrity or availability.

Using the following code snippet, an attacker can create a malicious PDF containing an internal server file:

import requests

url = "https://example.com/webservice/create-pdf";
data = {
    "user_id": "attacker",
    "pdf_title": "Malicious PDF",
    "embedded_file": "/path/to/internal-server-file"
}

response = requests.post(url, json=data, headers={"Authorization": "Bearer <admin_token>"})

if response.status_code == 200:
    with open("malicious_pdf.pdf", "wb") as f:
        f.write(response.content)
else:
    print("Error:", response.status_code)

Upon successful execution of the above code snippet, the attacker will have generated a PDF named "malicious_pdf.pdf" containing the specified internal server file. They can then download this PDF and have access to the server's internal file, unabated.

Original References

- https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2024-47580
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-47580

Exploit Details

The exploit relies on the attacker possessing administrator authentication. This can be a significant barrier for many attackers, but as history has shown, determined attackers can often find creative ways to acquire authentication through methods such as phishing attacks and brute-force password attacks.

Once authenticated as an administrator, the attacker will utilize the vulnerable webservice to create the malicious PDF. Due to the webservice's internal logic, it will embed the file specified by the attacker in the PDF without verifying whether or not it is an internal server file.

Once the PDF has been generated, the attacker can download it and access the contents of the internal server file without leaving any trace of their action on the server. Additionally, because the server's integrity and availability are unaffected by the attack, it can persist undetected for an extended period.

Mitigation and Prevention

Users and system administrators should apply security patches or updates provided by the software vendor to fix the vulnerability. Access controls to webservices should be strengthened, and users should be cautious about granting administrative access to potentially untrusted individuals.

In conclusion, CVE-2024-47580 highlights the need for robust security measures to protect not only against unauthorized access to internal server files but also to thwart potential authentication compromises. As always, be vigilant and proactive in assessing and addressing potential security threats.

Timeline

Published on: 12/10/2024 01:15:05 UTC