CVE-2024-51485 in Ampache
Summary
by MITRE • 11/11/2024
Ampache is a web based audio/video streaming application and file manager. The current implementation of token parsing fails to properly validate CSRF tokens when activating or deactivating plugins. This vulnerability allows an attacker to exploit CSRF attacks, potentially enabling them to change website features that should only be managed by administrators through malicious requests. This issue has been addressed in version 7.0.1 and all users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-51485 affects Ampache, a web-based audio and video streaming application that serves as both a media server and file management system. This application provides users with the ability to stream multimedia content while also offering plugin management capabilities that allow for extended functionality. The core issue lies within the token validation mechanism that governs administrative actions within the application's user interface. When administrators attempt to activate or deactivate plugins through the web interface, the system relies on CSRF tokens to verify that requests originate from legitimate administrative sessions rather than malicious actors.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper validation of Cross-Site Request Forgery tokens during plugin management operations. Specifically, the application fails to adequately verify the authenticity of CSRF tokens when processing requests to enable or disable plugins. This weakness allows an attacker to craft malicious requests that appear to originate from authenticated administrative sessions, even when the attacker lacks legitimate credentials. The vulnerability exists because the token validation process does not sufficiently ensure that tokens are properly generated, transmitted, and verified within the context of legitimate administrative sessions. According to CWE standards, this represents a weakness in the validation of CSRF tokens, specifically categorized under CWE-352 which addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations relying on Ampache for media management and streaming services. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can manipulate the application's plugin ecosystem without proper authorization, potentially enabling malicious plugins or disabling security-enhancing features. This could lead to unauthorized access to media libraries, modification of streaming configurations, or the installation of harmful plugins that compromise the entire application environment. The vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and could allow attackers to escalate their access within the system, potentially leading to full administrative control over the media server. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence through plugin manipulation.
The security implications extend beyond simple unauthorized access, as plugin management is often a critical administrative function that can significantly impact system behavior and security posture. When an attacker can manipulate plugins without proper authentication, they can potentially introduce backdoors, disable security features, or modify application behavior in ways that persist across system restarts. The vulnerability affects the integrity and availability of the application's core functionality, as plugin activation and deactivation are fundamental operations that control how the application behaves and what features remain accessible to users. Organizations using Ampache should immediately implement the recommended upgrade to version 7.0.1, as no effective workarounds exist for this particular vulnerability. The fix addresses the underlying token validation mechanism to ensure that CSRF tokens are properly verified before any administrative plugin operations are executed, thereby restoring the intended security controls around privileged actions within the application.