CVE-2024-47820 in Markus
Summary
by MITRE • 11/18/2024
MarkUs, a web application for the submission and grading of student assignments, is vulnerable to path traversal in versions prior to 2.4.8. Authenticated instructors may download any file on the web server MarkUs is running on, depending on the file permissions. MarkUs v2.4.8 has addressed this issue. No known workarounds are available at the application level aside from upgrading.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-47820 affects MarkUs, a web-based platform designed for academic assignment submission and grading. This application serves as a critical tool in educational environments where instructors manage student work and assessment processes. The flaw exists in versions prior to 2.4.8 and represents a significant security weakness that could compromise the integrity and confidentiality of institutional data. The vulnerability specifically manifests as a path traversal issue, allowing authenticated users with instructor privileges to access files beyond their intended scope within the application's file system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within MarkUs's file handling mechanisms. When instructors attempt to download files through the application's interface, the system fails to properly validate or sanitize file paths provided by users. This allows malicious actors with instructor credentials to manipulate file path parameters and navigate the server's file system. The vulnerability operates at the application level where user-supplied input directly influences file access operations, creating an environment where arbitrary file access becomes possible. According to CWE standards, this represents a classic path traversal vulnerability classified under CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it enables potential attackers to access sensitive system files, configuration data, and potentially other users' assignments or personal information. Since the vulnerability requires authentication, it primarily affects users with instructor privileges, but the implications remain severe given that these accounts typically possess elevated access rights. The severity increases when considering that instructors may have access to student personal information, academic records, and proprietary course materials. This vulnerability could facilitate information disclosure attacks and potentially serve as a stepping stone for further exploitation within the educational institution's network infrastructure.
Organizations utilizing MarkUs must implement immediate remediation measures to address this vulnerability. The primary and recommended solution involves upgrading to version 2.4.8 or later, which includes patches specifically designed to address the path traversal flaw. No effective workarounds exist at the application level, making the upgrade the only viable solution for protecting against this vulnerability. System administrators should conduct thorough testing of the updated version to ensure compatibility with existing workflows and configurations. Additionally, organizations should review and audit current instructor access permissions to minimize potential impact should the vulnerability be exploited. The remediation process should include comprehensive monitoring of system logs for any suspicious file access patterns and verification that the patch has been successfully applied across all instances of the application. This vulnerability highlights the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing proper access controls within educational technology platforms.