CVE-2024-0798 in anything-llm
Summary
by MITRE • 02/26/2024
A user with a `default` role given to them by the admin can sent `DELETE` HTTP requests to `remove-folder` and `remove-document` to delete folders and source files from the instance even when their role should explicitly not allow this action on the system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/27/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical authorization bypass flaw in a document management system where users with the default role can execute delete operations despite explicit permission restrictions. The issue manifests when authenticated users with limited privileges attempt to send DELETE HTTP requests to specific endpoints including remove-folder and remove-document, which should be restricted to administrators or users with elevated permissions. The flaw demonstrates a clear breakdown in the system's access control mechanism, where role-based access controls fail to properly validate user permissions before executing destructive operations. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-285 category of Improper Authorization, specifically addressing insufficient authorization checks during critical operations. The vulnerability enables a low-privilege user to potentially cause significant data loss or system disruption by removing folders and source files from the instance, undermining the principle of least privilege that should govern all system operations.
The technical implementation of this flaw suggests that the application lacks proper input validation and access control enforcement at the API endpoint level. When users submit DELETE requests to the remove-folder and remove-document endpoints, the system should verify that the requesting user possesses the appropriate permissions before proceeding with the deletion operation. However, the current implementation appears to either completely bypass authorization checks or fails to properly validate the user's role against the required permissions for these destructive actions. The HTTP DELETE method is being used as an attack vector, which aligns with common exploitation patterns where attackers leverage standard web protocols to perform unauthorized operations. This vulnerability directly impacts the system's integrity and availability, as it allows unauthorized deletion of potentially critical system components or user data.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability creates a significant risk for organizations relying on the affected system for document management and collaboration. A malicious insider or compromised low-privilege account could exploit this flaw to delete important folders and source files, potentially causing service disruption, data loss, or compliance violations. The impact extends beyond immediate data destruction to include potential business continuity issues and regulatory compliance breaches, particularly in environments where document retention policies and audit trails are critical. The vulnerability may also enable attackers to escalate their privileges further by removing system components or configuration files necessary for proper operation. This flaw represents a classic privilege escalation vector that can be leveraged in combination with other vulnerabilities to achieve broader system compromise, making it particularly dangerous in multi-layered attack scenarios.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust access control checks at all API endpoints, particularly those handling destructive operations such as file deletion. The system must enforce strict authorization validation before executing any DELETE operations, ensuring that only users with appropriate administrative privileges can access the remove-folder and remove-document endpoints. Organizations should implement comprehensive logging and monitoring of deletion activities to detect unauthorized attempts to remove system resources. The solution involves strengthening the role-based access control implementation to properly validate user permissions and ensure that the default role cannot perform operations that are explicitly restricted to higher-privileged users. Additionally, implementing input sanitization and request validation can prevent malformed requests from bypassing access control mechanisms. This vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to the principle of least privilege, where system access is granted based on explicit need rather than default permissions, aligning with the ATT&CK framework's privileged access and defense evasion techniques that exploit such authorization bypasses.