CVE-2024-0740 in Target Management
Summary
by MITRE • 04/26/2024
Eclipse Target Management: Terminal and Remote System Explorer (RSE) version <= 4.5.400 has a remote code execution vulnerability that does not require authentication.
The fixed version is included in Eclipse IDE 2024-03
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/04/2025
The Eclipse Target Management component including Terminal and Remote System Explorer RSE presents a critical remote code execution vulnerability that affects versions 4.5.400 and earlier. This vulnerability resides within the Eclipse IDE ecosystem and specifically impacts the remote system exploration functionality that allows users to interact with remote systems through terminal connections. The flaw enables attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems without requiring any authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous in environments where Eclipse IDE is used for development and system administration tasks. The vulnerability affects the underlying RSE framework that facilitates remote connections and terminal sessions, creating a significant attack surface for malicious actors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the remote system explorer component. When processing remote connection parameters or terminal commands, the system fails to properly validate user-supplied data, allowing crafted payloads to be executed within the context of the running Eclipse process. This represents a classic command injection vulnerability that operates at the application level, where user-controllable input flows directly into system execution contexts without proper sanitization. The flaw likely exists in how the RSE component handles remote connection strings, terminal command execution, or data serialization from remote systems, creating a pathway for arbitrary code execution through carefully crafted inputs.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple exploitation as it affects development environments where Eclipse IDE serves as the primary integrated development environment. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain full control over systems running affected Eclipse versions, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system compromise, and persistence within development environments. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise settings where developers may have elevated privileges or access to sensitive development systems. Additionally, the lack of authentication requirements means that attackers can exploit this vulnerability from any network location, making it a high-severity threat that can be exploited without prior access to the target system.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to Eclipse IDE 2024-03 or later versions that contain the patched implementation of the Target Management component. The remediation addresses the core input validation issues within the RSE framework and implements proper sanitization of remote connection parameters and terminal commands. Security teams should also implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and consider restricting access to development environments where Eclipse IDE is installed. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94 categories related to command injection and code injection flaws, and represents a technique that could be mapped to ATT&CK tactics including execution and privilege escalation. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected Eclipse versions and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place to prevent future occurrences of similar vulnerabilities.