CVE-2024-12645 in topm-client
Summary
by MITRE • 12/16/2024
The topm-client from Chunghwa Telecom has an Arbitrary File Read vulnerability. The application sets up a simple local web server and provides APIs for communication with the target website. Due to the lack of CSRF protection for the APIs, unauthenticated remote attackers could use these APIs through phishing. Additionally, one of the APIs contains a Relative Path Traversal vulnerability, allowing attackers to read arbitrary files on the user's system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/17/2025
The CVE-2024-12645 vulnerability affects the topm-client application developed by Chunghwa Telecom, representing a critical security flaw that combines multiple attack vectors to compromise user systems. This client application functions as a local web server that establishes communication channels with target websites through various APIs, creating a potential attack surface that extends beyond traditional network boundaries. The vulnerability stems from insufficient security controls within the application's API implementation, particularly lacking proper authentication mechanisms and input validation measures.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages two distinct but complementary attack paths that together create a significant threat to user systems. The first vulnerability manifests as a lack of Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) protection in the application's APIs, which allows unauthenticated remote attackers to manipulate the client application through phishing campaigns. This weakness enables attackers to craft malicious web pages or email attachments that can trigger unintended actions within the client application without user consent. The second vulnerability involves a Relative Path Traversal flaw in one of the APIs, which permits attackers to manipulate file path parameters and access arbitrary files on the user's local system. This path traversal vulnerability specifically targets the application's file handling mechanisms, allowing unauthorized access to sensitive files that should remain protected.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to access potentially sensitive information stored locally on user systems. The combination of CSRF and path traversal vulnerabilities creates a powerful attack vector that can be exploited through social engineering campaigns, particularly phishing attacks that trick users into visiting malicious websites. The local web server component of the application means that attackers can potentially access files that are normally protected by operating system security controls, including configuration files, logs, and potentially user credentials or personal data. This vulnerability essentially transforms a legitimate client application into a potential gateway for lateral movement and information extraction within the local network environment.
Organizations and users affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations to protect against exploitation attempts. The primary recommendation involves updating to the latest version of the topm-client application where the security flaws have been addressed through proper input validation and CSRF protection mechanisms. Network administrators should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of unauthorized applications, particularly those that establish local web servers. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the importance of verifying website authenticity and avoiding suspicious links or attachments that could lead to exploitation of the CSRF vulnerability. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual file access patterns and API calls that might indicate exploitation attempts, as the path traversal vulnerability could generate specific network traffic signatures that can be monitored and blocked.
This vulnerability aligns with several cybersecurity frameworks and threat models, particularly mapping to CWE-352 for Cross-Site Request Forgery and CWE-22 for Path Traversal attacks. The attack pattern follows typical TTPs from the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically relating to privilege escalation and defense evasion techniques. The combination of these vulnerabilities demonstrates how seemingly minor security oversights can create significant attack surfaces, particularly in applications that handle sensitive data and establish local network services. The remediation approach should focus on implementing proper security controls including authentication, input validation, and proper access controls to prevent unauthorized file access and API manipulation. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments of client applications to identify similar vulnerabilities that could be exploited through social engineering or network-based attacks.