CVE-2024-23540 in BigFix Inventory
Summary
by MITRE • 04/03/2024
The HCL BigFix Inventory server is vulnerable to path traversal which enables an attacker to read internal application files from the Inventory server. The BigFix Inventory server does not properly restrict the served static file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-23540 affects the HCL BigFix Inventory server, a component used for enterprise asset management and software inventory tracking. This server serves as a central repository for collecting and managing software inventory data across organizational networks, making it a critical component in enterprise security infrastructure. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and file access controls within the server's static file serving mechanism, creating a path traversal condition that allows unauthorized access to internal application files.
This security flaw represents a classic path traversal vulnerability classified under CWE-22, where an attacker can manipulate file path references to access files outside the intended directory structure. The BigFix Inventory server fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input that determines which static files to serve, enabling malicious actors to craft requests that traverse directory boundaries and access sensitive internal files. The vulnerability specifically impacts the server's static file serving functionality, which is designed to deliver application resources but lacks proper access controls and path validation mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations relying on BigFix Inventory server for enterprise asset management. An attacker exploiting this path traversal flaw could potentially access configuration files, database connection details, application credentials, and other sensitive internal resources that should remain protected. This access could lead to further exploitation opportunities including privilege escalation, data exfiltration, or lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality and integrity of the inventory management system, potentially exposing critical enterprise data and undermining the security posture of organizations using this platform.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the latest patched versions of the HCL BigFix Inventory server software, implementing proper input validation and sanitization for all file path parameters, and restricting file access permissions to minimize the impact of potential exploitation. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious file access patterns. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1566 (Phishing) as attackers may use this flaw to gather intelligence about the target environment. Additionally, this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper secure coding practices and input validation as outlined in OWASP Top 10 and NIST cybersecurity frameworks, emphasizing that file access controls must be implemented at multiple layers of the application architecture to prevent unauthorized file system access.