CVE-2024-1901 in Server
Summary
by MITRE • 03/06/2024
Denial of service in PAM password rotation during the check-in process in Devolutions Server 2023.3.14.0 allows an authenticated user with specific PAM permissions to make PAM credentials unavailable.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/06/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-1901 represents a critical denial of service condition within Devolutions Server 2023.3.14.0 that specifically targets the Pluggable Authentication Modules password rotation functionality during the check-in process. This issue affects systems that utilize Devolutions Server for privileged access management and authentication services, creating a scenario where legitimate authenticated users can disrupt critical credential management operations.
The technical flaw manifests in the password rotation mechanism within the PAM subsystem where improper validation or handling of authentication tokens during the check-in workflow leads to credential unavailability. When an authenticated user with specific PAM permissions executes the password rotation process, the system fails to properly manage the credential state transition, resulting in the temporary or permanent unavailability of PAM credentials. This vulnerability operates at the intersection of authentication management and access control, leveraging the legitimate permissions of authorized users to create an operational disruption.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations relying on Devolutions Server for privileged account management. The denial of service condition effectively renders PAM credentials unusable, which can disrupt critical system operations, prevent legitimate access to privileged accounts, and potentially impact business continuity. The attack vector requires authentication, meaning that only users with existing access credentials can exploit this vulnerability, but those users must possess specific PAM permissions to cause the disruption. This makes the vulnerability particularly concerning as it can be exploited by insider threats or compromised accounts with appropriate privileges.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which categorizes denial of service conditions, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-306, related to missing authentication. The operational impact extends beyond simple service disruption as it affects the fundamental integrity of privileged access management systems. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability can be exploited through legitimate system usage patterns, making detection and prevention more challenging. The issue particularly affects environments where PAM integration is critical for system security and where credential rotation is a regular operational requirement.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches or updates, monitoring for suspicious authentication patterns, and implementing additional access controls to limit PAM permissions to only those users who require them. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation and denial of service techniques, as it allows an authenticated user to disrupt system services. Network segmentation and monitoring of authentication events can help detect exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments should verify that the patched version properly resolves the credential unavailability issue. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation and state management in authentication systems, particularly when handling credential rotation workflows.