CVE-2024-11978 in DreamMaker
Summary
by MITRE • 11/29/2024
DreamMaker from Interinfo has a Path Traversal vulnerability, allowing unauthenticated remote attackers to exploit this vulnerability to read arbitrary system files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/29/2024
The CVE-2024-11978 vulnerability represents a critical path traversal flaw in DreamMaker software developed by Interinfo, a widely used content management and web development platform. This vulnerability exists within the application's file handling mechanisms and allows unauthenticated remote attackers to exploit the system and access arbitrary files on the underlying operating system. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and improper sanitization of user-supplied paths, enabling attackers to manipulate file access requests through specially crafted input sequences that bypass normal security restrictions.
This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The technical implementation of this flaw allows attackers to navigate through the file system hierarchy using sequences such as ../ or ..\ to access files outside the intended directory structure. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no authentication, meaning any remote user can potentially exploit it without prior access credentials, making it a significant threat to systems running affected versions of DreamMaker.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-11978 extends beyond simple file access, as attackers can potentially read sensitive system files including configuration files, database credentials, application source code, and other confidential information. This could lead to complete system compromise through information disclosure, privilege escalation, or further exploitation of other vulnerabilities present on the compromised system. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on DreamMaker for web content management, potentially exposing critical business data and infrastructure components to unauthorized access. The lack of authentication requirements means that this vulnerability can be exploited at scale without detection, as attackers can simply browse through the web application's interface to identify and access sensitive files.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1566 (Phishing) as attackers may use the information gathered through path traversal to craft more sophisticated attacks. The attack surface is particularly concerning for organizations running DreamMaker on publicly accessible servers, as the vulnerability can be exploited through web-based interfaces without requiring specialized tools or insider knowledge. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure, while also monitoring for suspicious file access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and proper access controls in web applications, particularly those handling file system operations, and serves as a reminder of the critical need for regular security assessments and patch management processes.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of affected systems, implementing web application firewalls to detect and block path traversal attempts, and conducting thorough security reviews of all file handling operations within the application. Organizations should also establish monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized file access patterns and implement principle of least privilege controls to limit the damage that could result from successful exploitation. Regular security training for developers on secure coding practices, particularly around input validation and file system access, is essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future versions of the software.