CVE-2024-38657 in Connect Secure
Summary
by MITRE • 02/21/2025
External control of a file name in Ivanti Connect Secure before version 22.7R2.4 and Ivanti Policy Secure before version 22.7R1.3 allows a remote authenticated attacker with admin privileges to write arbitrary files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-38657 represents a critical file system manipulation flaw affecting Ivanti Connect Secure and Ivanti Policy Secure products. This issue stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms that permit unauthorized file operations through external control of file names. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions prior to 22.7R2.4 for Connect Secure and 22.7R1.3 for Policy Secure, indicating a widespread concern across multiple product lines within the Ivanti security portfolio. The flaw enables remote authenticated attackers with administrative privileges to execute arbitrary file write operations, fundamentally compromising the integrity and confidentiality of affected systems.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-73, which describes "External Control of File Name or Path" - a well-documented weakness that allows attackers to manipulate file system operations through externally provided data. This particular implementation allows an attacker to specify file paths and names that bypass normal security controls, potentially leading to overwriting critical system files, injecting malicious code, or creating backdoor access points. The vulnerability operates at the application layer where file operations are processed, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without requiring physical access or additional privileges beyond administrative authentication.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-38657 extends beyond simple file manipulation to encompass complete system compromise potential. An attacker with administrative access can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access, escalate privileges, or disrupt critical services. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can target these systems from anywhere on the network without requiring local system access, significantly increasing the attack surface. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for command and script execution, T1486 for data encryption for ransom, and T1566 for phishing attacks that could leverage the compromised system. Organizations running affected versions face potential data loss, system downtime, and regulatory compliance violations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-38657 primarily focus on immediate version upgrades to the patched releases mentioned in the advisory. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to administrative functions and establish strict monitoring of file system operations. The vulnerability requires administrative credentials to exploit, making credential management and access control particularly critical. Security teams should deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious file write patterns and implement principle of least privilege controls to reduce the impact of potential compromise. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in the broader network infrastructure, as this type of flaw often indicates broader architectural weaknesses that may affect other components of the security ecosystem.