CVE-2024-52976 in Elastic
Summary
by MITRE • 05/01/2025
Inclusion of functionality from an untrusted control sphere in Elastic Agent subprocess, osqueryd, allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code via parameter injection.
An attacker requires local access and the ability to modify osqueryd configurations.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-52976 represents a critical security flaw within the Elastic Agent ecosystem that stems from improper handling of external control inputs in its subprocess execution. This issue specifically affects the osqueryd component which operates as a subprocess within the Elastic Agent framework, creating a vector through which local attackers can potentially escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The vulnerability manifests when the Elastic Agent incorporates functionality from an untrusted control sphere, particularly through the osqueryd subprocess, allowing malicious actors to manipulate the execution flow through parameter injection techniques.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability leverages the inherent trust model within the Elastic Agent architecture where subprocesses are not adequately isolated from potentially malicious inputs. When osqueryd executes with elevated privileges, any parameter injection attacks targeting its configuration parameters can result in arbitrary code execution, as the system fails to properly validate or sanitize input before passing it to the underlying subprocess. This flaw directly relates to CWE-74, which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in data queries, and CWE-94, which covers improper control of generation of code, both of which are fundamental to the exploitation pathway. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe because it requires only local access and configuration modification privileges, making it accessible to attackers who have already compromised a system's local environment.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations relying on Elastic Agent for security monitoring and threat detection. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it allows attackers with minimal privileges to potentially escalate their access and execute malicious code with the elevated privileges of the Elastic Agent process. This creates a potential pathway for lateral movement within networks where Elastic Agent is deployed, as attackers can leverage the compromised agent to gain access to other systems or escalate their privileges to system-level access. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1548.002 for abuse of process control, as the attacker leverages legitimate system processes to execute malicious code.
The exploitation of CVE-2024-52976 requires an attacker to possess local access to the system and the ability to modify osqueryd configurations, which significantly reduces the attack surface but does not eliminate the threat. Organizations should implement strict access controls and monitoring of Elastic Agent configuration files to prevent unauthorized modifications. The recommended mitigations include enforcing strict file permissions on osqueryd configuration files, implementing automated configuration integrity checks, and ensuring that only authorized administrators can modify the Elastic Agent's subprocess configurations. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing privilege separation techniques and regular security assessments to identify potential configuration vulnerabilities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation and secure coding practices, particularly when dealing with subprocess execution and external control inputs in security monitoring tools.