CVE-2024-46987 in Camaleon
Summary
by MITRE • 09/18/2024
Camaleon CMS is a dynamic and advanced content management system based on Ruby on Rails. A path traversal vulnerability accessible via MediaController's download_private_file method allows authenticated users to download any file on the web server Camaleon CMS is running on (depending on the file permissions). This issue may lead to Information Disclosure. This issue has been addressed in release version 2.8.2. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/01/2026
The CVE-2024-46987 vulnerability represents a critical path traversal flaw within Camaleon CMS, a Ruby on Rails based content management system that serves as a foundation for dynamic web content management. This vulnerability specifically targets the MediaController's download_private_file method, which is designed to handle secure file downloads but contains a fundamental flaw in its path validation mechanisms. The issue affects authenticated users who can exploit this weakness to access arbitrary files on the underlying web server, potentially exposing sensitive data that should remain protected within the application's secure boundaries. The vulnerability's severity stems from the fact that it operates at the file system level, allowing attackers to bypass normal access controls and retrieve files that may contain configuration details, user credentials, application code, or other sensitive information.
The technical implementation of this path traversal vulnerability involves the improper handling of user-supplied input within the download_private_file method. When authenticated users submit requests to download private files, the application fails to adequately sanitize or validate the file path parameters, allowing malicious input to manipulate the file system access routines. This flaw enables attackers to traverse directory structures using techniques such as directory traversal sequences like ../ or ..\, potentially accessing files outside of the intended download directories. The vulnerability's impact is directly proportional to the file permissions of the web server, as attackers can only access files that the web server process has read permissions for, but this still represents a significant information disclosure risk that could expose system internals, application configuration, or user data.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-46987 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it fundamentally undermines the security model of the content management system. This vulnerability allows attackers to potentially access sensitive files such as database configuration files, application source code, log files, and other system artifacts that could provide valuable intelligence for further attacks. The authenticated nature of the vulnerability means that attackers would need valid user credentials, but this is often achievable through other attack vectors such as credential stuffing, phishing, or exploiting other vulnerabilities within the application. The disclosure of system information through this vulnerability could enable attackers to craft more sophisticated attacks against the application or underlying infrastructure, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 Path Traversal and CWE-352 Cross-Site Request Forgery categories, representing a classic example of inadequate input validation combined with improper access controls. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this as a privilege escalation or information gathering technique, potentially leading to lateral movement within the network if sensitive files containing credentials or system information are accessed. Organizations using Camaleon CMS should prioritize immediate remediation through the upgrade to version 2.8.2, as no workarounds exist for this vulnerability. The lack of mitigating controls means that the only effective defense against this specific threat is the application of the vendor-provided patch, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations with limited time or resources for complex security remediation efforts.