CVE-2024-2448 in LoadMaster
Summary
by MITRE • 03/22/2024
An OS command injection vulnerability has been identified in LoadMaster. An authenticated UI user with any permission settings may be able to inject commands into a UI component using a shell command resulting in OS command injection.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/12/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical operating system command injection flaw within LoadMaster's web interface, classified under CWE-77. The vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the user interface components that process user-supplied data. An authenticated attacker with any level of permissions can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious input that gets executed as shell commands on the underlying operating system. The flaw exists in the UI component that handles command execution, allowing attackers to bypass normal security controls and execute arbitrary OS commands with the privileges of the web application process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables attackers to gain unauthorized access to the system's underlying operating environment. Successful exploitation allows for complete system compromise including but not limited to arbitrary code execution, data exfiltration, privilege escalation, and persistence mechanisms. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to install backdoors, modify system configurations, access sensitive data, and potentially move laterally within the network infrastructure. The authenticated nature of the attack reduces the attack surface requirements, making it more accessible to insiders or attackers who have obtained valid credentials through other means.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1068 for Exploitation for Privilege Escalation. The attack chain typically involves initial access through valid credentials followed by exploitation of the command injection vulnerability to execute malicious commands. The vulnerability affects LoadMaster versions prior to the patched release, with the exact affected versions requiring specific vendor documentation review. Security controls such as input validation, output encoding, and proper privilege separation would have mitigated this issue.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying vendor patches, implementing network segmentation to limit access to the LoadMaster interface, and conducting comprehensive access reviews to ensure only necessary personnel have authentication credentials. Additional protective measures include implementing web application firewalls, monitoring for suspicious command execution patterns, and establishing robust logging and alerting mechanisms. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization and the principle of least privilege in web application development. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other system components, particularly those handling user input in critical infrastructure environments.