CVE-2024-24914 in ClusterXL
Summary
by MITRE • 11/07/2024
Authenticated Gaia users can inject code or commands by global variables through special HTTP requests. A Security fix that mitigates this vulnerability is available.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/27/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical code injection flaw affecting Gaia authentication systems where authenticated users can manipulate global variables through specially crafted HTTP requests to execute arbitrary code or commands on the target system. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the HTTP request processing pipeline, allowing maliciously constructed parameters to be interpreted as executable code rather than mere data. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only authenticated access, meaning an attacker who has already compromised legitimate credentials can escalate their privileges and gain full system control through carefully constructed requests that exploit the global variable injection mechanism.
The technical exploitation occurs when the Gaia system processes HTTP requests containing specially crafted parameters that are subsequently used to set or modify global variables within the application's runtime environment. These variables are then evaluated or executed as code without proper sanitization, creating a path for command injection attacks. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-94, which describes improper control of generation of code, and specifically relates to CWE-77, which addresses command injection vulnerabilities. Attackers can leverage this weakness to execute system commands, access sensitive data, modify system configurations, or establish persistent backdoors within the compromised environment. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it operates within the legitimate authentication flow, making detection more challenging and allowing attackers to remain undetected while performing malicious activities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential data breaches, system compromise, and complete loss of system integrity. An attacker with authenticated access can use this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information, modify critical system parameters, or even take control of the entire Gaia infrastructure. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security model of the authentication system, undermining the trust model that legitimate users rely upon. Organizations may experience significant operational disruption, regulatory compliance violations, and reputational damage if this vulnerability is exploited successfully. The attack can result in persistent access to the system, enabling long-term surveillance and data exfiltration operations that are difficult to detect and remediate.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate implementation of the security patch provided by the vendor, which addresses the root cause through proper input validation and sanitization of HTTP request parameters. Organizations must also implement robust parameter validation mechanisms that prevent the injection of malicious code into global variables during HTTP request processing. Additional defensive measures include implementing strict access controls, monitoring for unusual authentication patterns, and deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious HTTP request patterns. The remediation process should involve comprehensive security testing of all HTTP request handling components, including thorough input validation and sanitization procedures. Security teams should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify similar weaknesses in the authentication system architecture. Organizations should consider implementing principle of least privilege controls and multi-factor authentication to limit the potential impact of credential compromise, while also establishing incident response procedures specifically designed to handle code injection attacks targeting authentication systems.