CVE-2024-40514 in Chatvia
Summary
by MITRE • 01/17/2025
Insecure Permissions vulnerability in themesebrand Chatvia v.5.3.2 allows a remote attacker to escalate privileges via the User profile name and image upload functions.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/17/2025
The insecure permissions vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-40514 affects the Chatvia theme version 5.3.2 developed by themesebrand. This security flaw resides within the user profile management functionality of the web application, specifically targeting the mechanisms that handle user name and image upload operations. The vulnerability represents a critical weakness in the application's access control implementation, allowing unauthorized actors to exploit the system's permission model and potentially gain elevated privileges. The flaw demonstrates a clear failure in the principle of least privilege enforcement, where user-facing upload functions do not properly validate or restrict file types and access levels, creating opportunities for privilege escalation attacks.
This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and insufficient access control checks within the user profile management system. The user profile name and image upload functions lack proper authorization mechanisms to verify whether the requesting user has appropriate permissions to perform these operations. Attackers can manipulate the upload process to bypass normal security restrictions, potentially uploading malicious files or modifying user profiles with elevated privileges. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the application layer, requiring no special privileges to exploit and potentially allowing attackers to escalate their access from standard user level to administrative privileges. This type of flaw aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper permissions and access control issues in software applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can enable attackers to compromise the entire user management system and potentially gain access to sensitive data. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could modify user profiles, upload malicious content, or manipulate the application's user authentication mechanisms. The consequences may include unauthorized data access, user account takeover, and potential lateral movement within the network if the application shares resources with other systems. This vulnerability directly relates to ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation through legitimate user credentials and system access. The exploitation process typically involves uploading crafted files or manipulating API endpoints to bypass normal access controls, making this a persistent threat that could remain undetected for extended periods.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-40514 should focus on implementing robust access control measures and strengthening input validation processes. Organizations should immediately update to the latest version of the Chatvia theme where this vulnerability has been patched. System administrators should implement proper file type validation, enforce strict upload restrictions, and ensure that all user profile modification functions require proper authentication and authorization checks. The implementation of content security policies, file extension validation, and proper access control lists can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual upload patterns or unauthorized access attempts to user profile functions. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application's user management system and implement proper logging and alerting mechanisms to detect exploitation attempts. The remediation process must include thorough code review of all user profile management functions to ensure that proper authorization checks are implemented throughout the application's architecture.