CVE-2024-1764 in Server
Summary
by MITRE • 03/06/2024
Improper privilege management in Just-in-time (JIT) elevation module in Devolutions Server 2023.3.14.0 and earlier allows a user to continue using the elevated privilege even after the expiration under specific circumstances
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-1764 resides within the Just-in-time JIT elevation module of Devolutions Server versions 2023.3.14.0 and earlier, representing a critical flaw in privilege management that undermines the security controls designed to limit elevated access. This issue specifically targets the temporal enforcement mechanisms that should terminate elevated privileges once their designated expiration period has elapsed. The flaw allows unauthorized continuation of elevated access privileges beyond their intended duration, creating a persistent security risk that can be exploited by both internal and external threat actors who gain access to the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation and enforcement of privilege expiration timers within the JIT module. When users request elevated privileges through the JIT system, the underlying code fails to properly validate whether the requested elevated session has expired, particularly under specific operational conditions such as system clock adjustments, network latency, or concurrent access scenarios. This weakness manifests as a failure in the privilege management state machine that should automatically revoke elevated permissions upon expiration, instead maintaining access in a potentially compromised state. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-284 category of Improper Access Control, specifically targeting the principle of least privilege enforcement within privilege escalation mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple access control bypass to create significant risks for organizations relying on Devolutions Server for privileged access management. Attackers who can exploit this flaw can maintain elevated privileges indefinitely, potentially gaining access to sensitive data, system configuration files, and administrative functions that should only be accessible for brief periods. The persistence of elevated privileges creates opportunities for data exfiltration, system compromise, and lateral movement within the network. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for Valid Accounts and T1566.001 for Phishing, as it enables attackers to extend their access beyond normal operational boundaries and maintain persistence in compromised environments.
Organizations utilizing Devolutions Server should immediately implement mitigations that include updating to the latest version where the vulnerability has been patched, implementing additional monitoring controls around JIT elevation requests, and conducting comprehensive audits of existing elevated sessions to identify any potentially compromised access. The recommended approach involves deploying automated systems that continuously validate privilege expiration times and implement immediate revocation of elevated access when anomalies are detected. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation and additional authentication controls that limit the blast radius of compromised elevated privileges, while maintaining detailed logging and alerting mechanisms around JIT elevation activities. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of proper privilege lifecycle management and demonstrates how seemingly minor flaws in access control enforcement can create significant security risks across entire organizational infrastructures.