CVE-2024-29309 in Content Services
Summary
by MITRE • 05/02/2024
An issue in Alfresco Content Services v.23.3.0.7 allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code via the Transfer Service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/13/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-29309 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within Alfresco Content Services version 23.3.0.7. This issue specifically affects the Transfer Service component which facilitates content transfer operations between Alfresco instances. The flaw arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the service's processing pipeline, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-74 and CWE-94, indicating improper input validation and code execution vulnerabilities respectively, which aligns with the ATT&CK framework's T1059.007 technique for command and scripting interpreter. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that leverage the Transfer Service's functionality to bypass normal security controls and gain unauthorized access to system resources.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of data structures within the Transfer Service's communication protocols. When the service processes incoming transfer requests, it fails to properly validate the integrity and content of transferred data, allowing attackers to inject malicious code that gets executed within the context of the Alfresco application. This particular flaw demonstrates a dangerous lack of proper sanitization and validation of external inputs, creating a persistent threat vector that can be leveraged across network boundaries. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple code execution to potentially enable full system compromise, as the executed code operates with the privileges of the Alfresco service account. This scenario represents a classic command injection vulnerability where attacker-controlled input flows directly into system commands without adequate security controls, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where content management systems often operate with elevated privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-29309 poses significant risks to organizations relying on Alfresco Content Services for their document management and collaboration needs. Successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within network environments. Organizations may experience service disruption, regulatory compliance violations, and substantial financial losses due to the exposure of sensitive content and potential system infiltration. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can exploit it from any location with network access to the affected Alfresco instance, eliminating the need for physical presence or insider access. This characteristic makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors and increases the attack surface significantly. The impact is compounded by the fact that content management systems often store sensitive corporate data, making successful exploitation particularly damaging from both a security and business continuity perspective.
Organizations must implement immediate mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability, beginning with applying the vendor-provided patches and updates as soon as they become available. The recommended approach includes upgrading to the latest stable version of Alfresco Content Services that contains the necessary security fixes for the Transfer Service component. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to the Transfer Service endpoints, limiting exposure to authorized users only. Additional defensive measures include implementing robust input validation controls, monitoring network traffic for suspicious transfer activities, and establishing comprehensive logging mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any systems running affected versions and ensure proper access controls are in place. The mitigation strategy should align with industry best practices for vulnerability management and include regular security testing to prevent similar issues from emerging in the future. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems and security information event management solutions to monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability.