CVE-2024-4175 in Web Server
Summary
by MITRE • 04/25/2024
Unicode transformation vulnerability in Hyperion affecting version 2.0.15. This vulnerability could allow an attacker to send a malicious payload with Unicode characters that will be replaced by ASCII characters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-4175 represents a critical Unicode transformation flaw within the Hyperion software version 2.0.15. This issue stems from improper handling of Unicode character sequences during processing operations, creating a potential attack vector where malicious actors can exploit the system's character encoding transformations. The flaw specifically manifests when the application processes input containing Unicode characters that undergo automatic conversion to ASCII equivalents, leaving room for exploitation through carefully crafted payloads.
This vulnerability falls under the broader category of Unicode handling issues and can be categorized as a CWE-180, which addresses "Incorrect behavior when handling Unicode characters." The technical implementation flaw occurs at the input sanitization and character processing layers where the system fails to properly validate or sanitize Unicode sequences before they are converted to ASCII representations. Attackers can leverage this weakness by injecting Unicode characters that, when processed, are transformed into ASCII characters in ways that can bypass security controls or trigger unexpected system behaviors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple character replacement, as it can enable various attack scenarios including but not limited to injection attacks, bypassing of access controls, and potential privilege escalation. When malicious Unicode sequences are processed through the affected Hyperion version, the automatic ASCII conversion may inadvertently create conditions that allow attackers to manipulate system behavior or circumvent security mechanisms designed to prevent unauthorized access or data manipulation. The vulnerability particularly affects systems that rely on strict character validation and may compromise data integrity during processing operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-4175 should focus on implementing robust input validation that explicitly handles Unicode characters according to established security practices. Organizations should consider updating to the patched version of Hyperion and implementing proper character encoding validation routines that prevent the automatic conversion of potentially malicious Unicode sequences. Additionally, security controls should be enhanced to monitor and log character transformation events, providing visibility into potential exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1070.004 for "File and Directory Permissions Modification" and T1190 for "Exploit Public-Facing Application" when the vulnerability is leveraged through application interfaces. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure while patches are deployed, ensuring that the vulnerability cannot be exploited to gain unauthorized access to critical system resources.