CVE-2024-23537 in Fineract
Summary
by MITRE • 03/29/2024
Improper Privilege Management vulnerability in Apache Fineract.This issue affects Apache Fineract: <1.8.5.
Users are recommended to upgrade to version 1.9.0, which fixes the issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/13/2024
The CVE-2024-23537 vulnerability represents a critical improper privilege management flaw within Apache Fineract, a comprehensive financial services platform designed for microfinance institutions. This vulnerability stems from inadequate access control mechanisms that allow unauthorized users to escalate their privileges and gain elevated system permissions. The issue specifically impacts Apache Fineract versions prior to 1.8.5, making installations within this range particularly susceptible to exploitation. The vulnerability manifests when the system fails to properly validate user permissions during critical operations, creating pathways for malicious actors to bypass intended security controls.
The technical flaw underlying CVE-2024-23537 resides in the application's privilege management subsystem where insufficient input validation and access control checks permit privilege escalation attacks. Attackers can exploit this weakness to perform actions typically restricted to administrators or authorized personnel, potentially gaining access to sensitive financial data, user accounts, and system configuration settings. This misconfiguration directly violates the principle of least privilege and creates opportunities for data breaches, unauthorized transactions, and system compromise. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which specifically addresses improper privilege management in software applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, potentially enabling comprehensive system compromise within financial institutions using affected Apache Fineract versions. Organizations may face significant risks including unauthorized fund transfers, data manipulation, user account takeovers, and exposure of confidential customer information. The financial implications are particularly severe given that Apache Fineract serves microfinance institutions where transactional integrity and data security are paramount. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to conduct fraudulent activities, alter loan records, manipulate customer accounts, or gain persistence within the system. This vulnerability also creates opportunities for lateral movement within networks where Apache Fineract may be integrated with other financial systems.
Organizations should immediately implement the recommended mitigation by upgrading to Apache Fineract version 1.9.0, which includes comprehensive fixes for the privilege management flaw. Additionally, security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of all affected systems and implement network segmentation to limit potential attack surfaces. Access controls should be reviewed and strengthened, with particular attention to role-based access controls and audit logging mechanisms. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the T1068 privilege escalation sub-technique. Organizations should also implement continuous monitoring solutions to detect anomalous access patterns and unauthorized privilege attempts, ensuring that any exploitation attempts are promptly identified and addressed through incident response procedures.