ColdFusion, a popular application server and web development framework, has recently been found to be affected by a serious security vulnerability, designated as CVE-2024-53961. This vulnerability is classified as an Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory (commonly known as "Path Traversal"). This issue could allow an attacker to access and read files or directories outside of the restricted scope that the application server intended. Consequently, sensitive information could be exposed, or system data could be manipulated. In this blog post, we will discuss the details of this vulnerability, including affected versions, available patches, and tools for exploitation.
Affected Versions
Based on the original CVE report, ColdFusion versions 2023.11, 2021.17, and earlier are found to be affected by this vulnerability. The developers of ColdFusion have already released patches for these versions to mitigate the risk arising from the vulnerability.
Exploit Details
Exploiting this vulnerability involves manipulating the file paths used by the ColdFusion application server by including "../" (dot-dot-slash) sequences. By including these sequences, an attacker can effectively bypass the restricted directory limitations set by the application server and access files or directories beyond the intended scope.
Here is a sample snippet of vulnerable code
<!--- Read a file from the restricted directory --->
<cffile action="read" file="../some/path/RestrictedDirectory/#filename#" variable="fileContent">
To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker could inject the dot-dot-slash sequence into the "filename" variable, which would alter the file path, allowing access to files outside the intended restricted directory. For example:
#filename# = "../../../path/to/sensitive/data/passwords.txt"
In this case, the attacker could manipulate the file path to read a sensitive file outside of the "RestrictedDirectory", such as a file containing user passwords.
Original References
Several security researchers and experts have published information regarding this vulnerability and its potential implications. Some of the original references for this vulnerability are:
1. NIST National Vulnerability Database (NVD): Link to the NVD
2. The ColdFusion Security Advisory: Link to the advisory
3. Researcher's Blog Post: Link to the researcher's blog post
Mitigation Steps and Patching
To patch this vulnerability, it is crucial to upgrade to the latest version of ColdFusion or apply the patches released by the developers. The detailed steps to apply the patches can be found in the official ColdFusion security advisory.
Additionally, it is recommended to follow good security practices for web applications, such as input validation and proper file access management. Developers should validate user inputs that could be used in file paths and ensure access permissions are set appropriately to prevent unauthorized access.
Conclusion
CVE-2024-53961 is a critical vulnerability that affects ColdFusion versions 2023.11, 2021.17 and earlier, and could potentially lead to the exposure of sensitive information or manipulation of system data. It is essential to promptly apply the available patches and follow good security practices to mitigate this risk. Keep yourself informed about the latest security vulnerabilities and stay vigilant to protect your web applications and servers.
Timeline
Published on: 12/23/2024 21:15:05 UTC