CVE-2024-3435 in lollms-webui
Summary
by MITRE • 05/16/2024
A path traversal vulnerability exists in the 'save_settings' endpoint of the parisneo/lollms-webui application, affecting versions up to the latest release before 9.5. The vulnerability arises due to insufficient sanitization of the 'config' parameter in the 'apply_settings' function, allowing an attacker to manipulate the application's configuration by sending specially crafted JSON payloads. This could lead to remote code execution (RCE) by bypassing existing patches designed to mitigate such vulnerabilities.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-3435 represents a critical path traversal flaw within the parisneo/lollms-webui application that exposes the system to significant security risks. This vulnerability specifically targets the 'save_settings' endpoint and affects all versions up to the release preceding 9.5, indicating a persistent issue that has not been adequately addressed in the application's security architecture. The flaw exists within the 'apply_settings' function where the 'config' parameter undergoes insufficient sanitization, creating an exploitable gap in the application's input validation mechanisms. The vulnerability's severity is compounded by its potential to enable remote code execution, making it a particularly dangerous flaw that could allow attackers to gain complete control over the affected system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate parameter validation and sanitization practices within the application's configuration handling mechanism. When the 'config' parameter is processed through the 'apply_settings' function, the application fails to properly validate or sanitize the input data, allowing malicious actors to inject specially crafted JSON payloads that manipulate the application's configuration files. This path traversal capability enables attackers to navigate beyond the intended application boundaries and potentially access or modify critical system files. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of improper input validation and inadequate access controls, creating a pathway for privilege escalation and unauthorized system manipulation.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-3435 extends far beyond simple configuration manipulation, as the vulnerability can be leveraged to achieve remote code execution through carefully constructed attack vectors. Attackers can exploit this weakness to bypass existing security patches and defensive measures that were previously implemented to mitigate similar vulnerabilities, demonstrating the persistence of inadequate security controls within the application's architecture. The potential for RCE through this path traversal vulnerability means that an attacker could execute arbitrary code on the target system, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or the establishment of persistent backdoors. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous for production environments where the application may be exposed to untrusted network traffic.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-3435 must address both the immediate vulnerability and the underlying architectural issues that enabled it. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to version 9.5 or later where the vulnerability has been patched, while implementing additional defensive measures such as input validation, parameter sanitization, and proper access controls. The implementation of proper input validation aligns with CWE-20 standards for input validation and helps prevent similar path traversal vulnerabilities from occurring in the future. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls, network segmentation, and monitoring solutions to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Additionally, the vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security assessments and proper code review processes to identify and remediate similar issues before they can be exploited in production environments. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under privilege escalation and execution techniques, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security controls that address both the immediate threat and broader system vulnerabilities.