CVE-2024-4956 - Path Traversal Vulnerability in Sonatype Nexus Repository 3: Exploit Details, Code Snippets, and Fixes

CVE-2024-4956 is a critical path traversal vulnerability found in Sonatype's popular Nexus Repository Manager 3 software that allows unauthenticated attackers to access and read system files. This widespread security flaw affects Nexus Repository Manager OSS/Pro versions before 3.68.1. This blog post will discuss the details of the exploit, provide code snippets demonstrating the vulnerability, and examine how this issue can be fixed. The original references regarding this exploit can be found at:

- Sonatype security advisory
- National Vulnerability Database

Exploit Details

The vulnerability exists due to inadequate validation of user inputs in the web server component of the Nexus Repository Manager software. The underlying issue lies within the improper handling of HTTP requests, which enables an unauthenticated attacker to traverse the server's filesystem and access sensitive files that could contain valuable information or configuration data.

By exploiting this flaw, attackers can potentially gain unauthorized access to critical system files and sensitive information, such as configuration files, secret keys, certificates, and other valuable intellectual property.

The following code snippet demonstrates how the vulnerability can be exploited by crafting a malicious HTTP request:

GET /../../../../../../../../etc/passwd HTTP/1.1
Host: vulnerable-domain.com

This request could potentially expose the /etc/passwd file on a Unix-based system, granting the attacker unauthorized access to user account data.

Remediation Steps

Sonatype has addressed this vulnerability in Nexus Repository Manager 3.68.1. Users running affected versions are advised to upgrade immediately to protect their systems from possible exploitation. The latest version of Nexus Repository Manager can be downloaded from the official website.

Additionally, it is essential to review and strengthen access controls, deploy security-in-depth measures, and implement robust monitoring and logging for early detection and remediation of any potential threats.

Besides, it is worth considering the following security best practices to mitigate the risk of such vulnerabilities in the future:

Regularly audit your systems for vulnerabilities and apply necessary security updates.

3. Implement strict input validation and output encoding to prevent unauthorized access to system files.

Conclusion

CVE-2024-4956 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in Sonatype Nexus Repository 3 that enables unauthenticated attackers to access system files. This vulnerability has been fixed in version 3.68.1. Users are urged to upgrade immediately and implement additional security measures to protect their systems from potential threats.

Timeline

Published on: 05/16/2024 16:15:10 UTC
Last modified on: 06/04/2024 17:53:05 UTC