CVE-2024-5404 in moneo appliance QVA200
Summary
by MITRE • 06/03/2024
An unauthenticated remote attacker can change the admin password in a moneo appliance due to weak password recovery mechanism.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/03/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-5404 represents a critical security flaw in moneo appliances that allows unauthenticated remote attackers to compromise administrative accounts through a weak password recovery mechanism. This weakness fundamentally undermines the appliance's authentication framework and creates a direct pathway for unauthorized access to privileged administrative functions. The vulnerability exists within the password recovery implementation, where insufficient validation and authentication checks permit any remote attacker to manipulate administrative credentials without prior authorization or legitimate session context.
From a technical perspective, the flaw stems from inadequate input validation and authentication controls within the password recovery process. The moneo appliance appears to rely on mechanisms that do not properly verify the identity of users attempting password resets or changes, allowing attackers to exploit this gap through remote network access. This type of vulnerability commonly falls under CWE-613, which addresses insufficient session validation, or CWE-306, which covers missing authentication. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it operates entirely outside of normal authentication flows, making it difficult to detect through standard monitoring mechanisms. The vulnerability enables attackers to assume full administrative control over the appliance, which could include access to sensitive data, configuration changes, and potential lateral movement within network environments where the appliance operates.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as administrative control over moneo appliances typically encompasses critical network monitoring and security functions. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain visibility into network traffic patterns, manipulate security policies, or disable protective measures within the appliance. This compromise directly violates the principle of least privilege and could lead to broader network infiltration, especially if the appliance serves as a central monitoring point for network security. The vulnerability also represents a significant risk to compliance requirements, as it creates an unauthenticated access path that could be exploited to bypass security controls and potentially compromise audit trails. Organizations relying on moneo appliances for security monitoring may find their entire security infrastructure compromised if this vulnerability is exploited.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-5404 should prioritize immediate implementation of security patches provided by the vendor, as these will address the underlying password recovery mechanism flaws. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit remote access to the appliance to only authorized administrative personnel. Additional protective measures include implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative access, configuring strong access controls for password recovery functions, and establishing robust monitoring for unusual authentication patterns. Security teams should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on suspicious password recovery attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following security best practices outlined in frameworks such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO 27001, which emphasize the need for robust authentication mechanisms and proper access controls. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other network devices and implement comprehensive vulnerability management processes to prevent exploitation of similar weaknesses across their infrastructure.