CVE-2024-28824 in Checkmk
Summary
by MITRE • 03/22/2024
Least privilege violation and reliance on untrusted inputs in the mk_informix Checkmk agent plugin before Checkmk 2.3.0b4 (beta), 2.2.0p24, 2.1.0p41 and 2.0.0 (EOL) allows local users to escalate privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-28824 represents a critical security flaw in the Checkmk monitoring agent plugin known as mk_informix. This issue affects multiple versions of the Checkmk platform including versions prior to 2.3.0b4, 2.2.0p24, 2.1.0p41, and the end-of-life 2.0.0 release. The vulnerability manifests through a combination of least privilege violations and improper input validation that creates an exploitable condition for local privilege escalation attacks.
The technical flaw resides in how the mk_informix plugin handles user inputs and system permissions during its operation. When processing data from Informix database systems, the plugin fails to properly validate or sanitize input parameters, creating opportunities for malicious actors to manipulate the plugin's behavior. This weakness directly violates the principle of least privilege by allowing the plugin to operate with unnecessary elevated permissions or by failing to properly restrict access to sensitive system resources. The vulnerability specifically targets local users who can leverage this flaw to gain higher privileges on the system where Checkmk is installed.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-28824 is significant for organizations relying on Checkmk for infrastructure monitoring. Local privilege escalation vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they allow attackers who have already gained access to a system to elevate their privileges from standard user level to administrative or root level access. This compromise can lead to complete system takeover, data exfiltration, persistence mechanisms establishment, and further lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability affects systems where the mk_informix plugin is actively monitoring Informix database environments, which are common in enterprise environments with legacy database systems.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper privileges, and CWE-20, which covers input validation issues. The attack pattern follows typical privilege escalation techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the Privilege Escalation tactic. Organizations should immediately apply the available patches and updates to affected Checkmk versions, ensuring that all systems running the mk_informix plugin are updated to secure releases. Additionally, implementing network segmentation, monitoring for unusual privilege escalation activities, and conducting regular security assessments of monitoring agents can help mitigate the risk associated with this vulnerability. The remediation process should include thorough testing of updated plugins to ensure compatibility with existing monitoring configurations while maintaining the security posture of the monitored infrastructure.