CVE-2024-36131 in EPMM
Summary
by MITRE • 08/07/2024
An insecure deserialization vulnerability in web component of EPMM prior to 12.1.0.1 allows an authenticated remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system of the appliance.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/13/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-36131 represents a critical insecure deserialization flaw within the web component of EPMM (Enterprise Policy Management Module) versions prior to 12.1.0.1. This weakness stems from the application's improper handling of serialized data structures during the deserialization process, creating a pathway for malicious exploitation. The vulnerability specifically affects the web interface component that processes user-supplied data, making it accessible to authenticated remote attackers who can leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized system access. The issue manifests when the application receives serialized objects through web requests and subsequently deserializes them without adequate validation or sanitization of the input data.
From a technical perspective, the vulnerability operates through the exploitation of the deserialization mechanism where attacker-controlled serialized data can be crafted to include malicious payloads that execute arbitrary code on the target system. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-502, which specifically addresses deserialization of untrusted data as a security weakness. The flaw allows for remote code execution because the application does not perform proper input validation or sanitization before processing serialized objects, enabling attackers to inject malicious code that gets executed in the context of the web application. The attack vector requires authentication to the web interface, which reduces the attack surface but does not eliminate the severity of the potential impact. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute commands with the privileges of the web application user, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, particularly for organizations relying on EPMM for enterprise policy management. An authenticated attacker with access to the web interface can execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system compromise, or further lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability can be exploited to establish persistent access, escalate privileges, or deploy additional malicious tools on the compromised system. Organizations using affected versions of EPMM face significant risk of unauthorized access to sensitive enterprise data and policy management systems. The attack can result in complete system compromise, data loss, and disruption of critical enterprise operations that depend on proper policy enforcement and management.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-36131 focus primarily on upgrading to EPMM version 12.1.0.1 or later, which includes patches addressing the insecure deserialization vulnerability. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of the web interface to trusted users only. Additional protective measures include implementing web application firewalls, monitoring for suspicious deserialization patterns, and conducting regular security assessments of the application's input handling mechanisms. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices, particularly around data validation and serialization handling, as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and MITRE ATT&CK framework's application security categories. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime application self-protection (RASP) solutions to detect and prevent malicious deserialization attempts in real-time, providing an additional layer of defense against this type of vulnerability exploitation.