CVE-2024-27964 in Zippy Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/21/2024
Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type vulnerability in Gesundheit Bewegt GmbH Zippy.This issue affects Zippy: from n/a through 1.6.9.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/15/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-27964 represents a critical security flaw in the Zippy application developed by Gesundheit Bewegt GmbH, specifically affecting versions ranging from an unspecified initial version through 1.6.9. This vulnerability falls under the category of unrestricted file upload, which constitutes a fundamental weakness in web application security architecture. The issue manifests when the application fails to properly validate or restrict file types that users can upload, creating an avenue for malicious actors to bypass security controls and potentially execute arbitrary code within the application environment. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can lead to complete system compromise when exploited by threat actors.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the file upload functionality of Zippy. When users attempt to upload files, the application does not sufficiently verify the file type, file content, or file extension against a whitelist of acceptable formats. This absence of proper validation allows attackers to upload files with dangerous extensions such as .php, .asp, .jsp, or other executable formats that could be interpreted and executed by the web server. The flaw aligns with CWE-434, which specifically addresses the improper restriction of uploads of executable code, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices that should prevent such unrestricted file handling behaviors. The vulnerability creates a pathway for attackers to upload malicious payloads that can be executed within the application context, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data exfiltration, or complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data corruption or availability issues, as it fundamentally undermines the security posture of any system running affected versions of Zippy. Attackers could leverage this weakness to upload web shells, malware, or other malicious executables that would execute with the privileges of the web server process. This could result in unauthorized access to sensitive data, privilege escalation, and potential lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability's impact is exacerbated by the fact that it affects a wide range of versions, meaning that organizations may be unknowingly running vulnerable code across their infrastructure. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, where adversaries target web applications to gain initial access, and T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter, where attackers execute code through uploaded malicious files.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-27964 should focus on implementing robust input validation and sanitization controls within the file upload functionality. Organizations must establish comprehensive file type whitelisting mechanisms that only permit safe file extensions and content types while rejecting potentially dangerous formats. The implementation should include server-side validation that checks both file extensions and MIME types, as well as content analysis to verify that uploaded files match their claimed types. Additionally, uploaded files should be stored in a separate directory with restricted permissions, and the web server should be configured to prevent execution of uploaded files. Organizations should also consider implementing proper access controls and monitoring mechanisms to detect unauthorized file uploads, as well as ensuring that all systems are updated to the latest version of Zippy that contains the necessary security patches. The remediation process should align with industry standards such as OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines, emphasizing defense in depth and principle of least privilege access controls.