CVE-2024-2291 in MOVEit Transfer
Summary
by MITRE • 03/20/2024
In Progress MOVEit Transfer versions released before 2022.0.11 (14.0.11), 2022.1.12 (14.1.12), 2023.0.9 (15.0.9), 2023.1.4 (15.1.4), a logging bypass vulnerability has been discovered. An authenticated user could manipulate a request to bypass the logging mechanism within the web application which results in user activity not being logged properly.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/17/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-2291 represents a critical logging bypass flaw within Progress MOVEit Transfer software that affects multiple version lines including 14.0.11, 14.1.12, 15.0.9, and 15.1.4. This issue stems from insufficient input validation and request manipulation capabilities that allow authenticated users to circumvent the application's logging framework. The flaw operates at the application layer where legitimate user requests can be altered to avoid triggering the logging subsystem, creating a significant gap in audit trail capabilities. According to CWE-284, this vulnerability falls under improper access control mechanisms where the system fails to properly enforce logging policies for user activities. The security implications extend beyond simple logging failures as this bypass can mask malicious actions, making it difficult for security teams to detect unauthorized access patterns or privilege escalation attempts. The vulnerability specifically targets the web application interface where user authentication is required but the logging mechanism can be manipulated through request parameter tampering or header manipulation techniques.
The technical implementation of this logging bypass occurs when authenticated users leverage their legitimate access privileges to modify request parameters or headers that control logging behavior within the MOVEit Transfer application. Attackers can craft specific requests that either omit logging triggers or redirect logging to alternative destinations, effectively creating blind spots in the system's audit capabilities. The flaw demonstrates a weakness in the application's security architecture where the logging mechanism is not properly decoupled from the user authentication process, allowing authenticated users to manipulate the logging flow. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1562.006 which describes "Impairing Security Tools" and specifically targets the logging and monitoring capabilities that organizations rely upon for security operations. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges since only authenticated access is needed, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by both malicious insiders and external attackers who have obtained valid credentials through other means.
The operational impact of this logging bypass vulnerability creates substantial risks for organizations relying on MOVEit Transfer for file transfer operations and data management. When user activities are not properly logged, security teams lose visibility into critical system interactions that could indicate unauthorized access, data exfiltration attempts, or privilege abuse. This lack of audit trail makes incident response significantly more challenging as forensic analysis becomes difficult when key activities are not recorded in the system logs. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations that depend on compliance requirements such as SOC 2, HIPAA, or PCI DSS where comprehensive logging is mandatory for security monitoring and regulatory compliance. Without proper logging, organizations cannot effectively demonstrate adherence to security controls or detect anomalous user behavior that might indicate a security breach. The logging bypass also undermines the principle of least privilege enforcement since malicious users can perform actions while remaining undetected in the system's audit logs.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches for MOVEit Transfer versions 2022.0.11, 2022.1.12, 2023.0.9, and 2023.1.4 to address the root cause of the logging bypass vulnerability. Security teams should also deploy additional monitoring controls that can detect unusual patterns in file transfer activities independent of the application's logging mechanisms. Network-level monitoring solutions and file integrity monitoring tools can help compensate for the logging gaps created by this vulnerability. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify any existing unauthorized access or suspicious activities that may have occurred during the vulnerability window. Implementing multi-factor authentication and regular access reviews can help reduce the risk associated with authenticated users who might exploit this vulnerability. Additionally, security teams should establish alternative logging mechanisms using third-party tools or custom scripts to ensure that critical user activities are captured even when the application's built-in logging is compromised. The vulnerability highlights the importance of defense in depth strategies where multiple layers of security controls work together to protect against single points of failure in logging and monitoring capabilities.