CVE-2024-52052 in Streaming Engine
Summary
by MITRE • 11/22/2024
Wowza Streaming Engine below 4.9.1 permits an authenticated Streaming Engine Manager administrator to define a custom application property and poison a stream target for high-privilege remote code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/27/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-52052 affects Wowza Streaming Engine versions prior to 4.9.1 and represents a critical security flaw that enables authenticated administrators with Streaming Engine Manager privileges to execute arbitrary code on the target system. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application property configuration system, allowing maliciously crafted application properties to be injected into the streaming engine's configuration. The flaw specifically targets the stream target handling functionality, where improperly validated user inputs can be manipulated to alter the behavior of the streaming engine's processing pipeline. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it leverages the elevated privileges of an authenticated administrator, eliminating the need for additional privilege escalation techniques while still providing a direct path to remote code execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of custom application properties that are processed by the Wowza Streaming Engine's internal configuration management system. When an authenticated administrator creates or modifies application properties through the manager interface, the system fails to properly validate or sanitize the input values before they are applied to the streaming engine's operational context. This weakness allows attackers to inject malicious payloads that can be executed within the context of the streaming engine process, potentially leading to full system compromise. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation and CWE-94 Improper Control of Generation of Code, as it involves both web input sanitization failures and code execution through configuration manipulation. The attack vector requires an authenticated administrator account, making it a privilege escalation vulnerability that can be exploited by insiders or compromised administrative credentials.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-52052 extends beyond simple remote code execution to encompass potential data breaches, service disruption, and system compromise within streaming environments. Organizations utilizing Wowza Streaming Engine in production environments face significant risk from this vulnerability, particularly those with multiple administrators or systems where administrative credentials may be compromised. The vulnerability can be exploited to gain unauthorized access to streaming content, modify or delete media files, install backdoors, or establish persistent access to the affected systems. The high-privilege nature of the attack means that successful exploitation can result in complete control over the streaming infrastructure, potentially affecting thousands of concurrent streams and associated media assets. Security operations teams must consider this vulnerability as a critical threat to their streaming infrastructure, especially in environments where the streaming engine is exposed to untrusted networks or where administrative access controls may be insufficient.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-52052 should focus on immediate patching of affected systems to version 4.9.1 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for input validation and sanitization. Organizations should also implement strict access controls and monitoring around administrator accounts and configuration changes, as the vulnerability requires authenticated access to exploit. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to limit access to streaming engine management interfaces to trusted administrative networks only. Additionally, security teams should conduct thorough audits of existing application properties and configurations to identify any potentially malicious entries that may have been introduced prior to patching. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in web applications and the critical need for secure configuration management practices. Organizations should also consider implementing automated monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous configuration changes or suspicious administrative activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing robust security controls around privileged administrative functions within streaming and media processing systems.