CVE-2024-5806 in MOVEit Transfer
Summary
by MITRE • 06/25/2024
Improper Authentication vulnerability in Progress MOVEit Transfer (SFTP module) can lead to Authentication Bypass in limited scenarios.This issue affects MOVEit Transfer: from 2023.0.0 before 2023.0.11, from 2023.1.0 before 2023.1.6, from 2024.0.0 before 2024.0.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/25/2024
The CVE-2024-5806 vulnerability represents a critical improper authentication flaw within Progress MOVEit Transfer's SFTP module that could potentially enable authentication bypass attacks under specific conditions. This vulnerability specifically targets the Secure File Transfer Protocol implementation within the MOVEit Transfer platform, which is widely used for enterprise file transfer operations. The affected versions span across multiple release branches including 2023.0.x prior to 2023.0.11, 2023.1.x prior to 2023.1.6, and 2024.0.x prior to 2024.0.2, indicating a broad impact across the product's lifecycle. The vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of authentication credentials during SFTP session establishment, creating potential entry points for unauthorized access to file transfer operations. This issue falls under the CWE-287 category of improper authentication, which is classified as a fundamental security weakness that can lead to complete system compromise when exploited.
The technical implementation flaw manifests in the SFTP authentication handling mechanism where the system fails to properly validate user credentials against the configured authentication backend. This weakness allows attackers to potentially bypass the normal authentication process by exploiting specific conditions within the session establishment flow. The vulnerability's impact is considered limited to certain scenarios, suggesting that specific combinations of parameters or environmental conditions must be met for successful exploitation to occur. Attackers could potentially leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access to file transfer operations, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system compromise, or disruption of legitimate file transfer services. The SFTP module's authentication bypass capability represents a significant risk to organizations relying on MOVEit Transfer for secure file exchanges, particularly in environments where sensitive data is regularly transferred.
Organizations utilizing affected MOVEit Transfer versions face substantial operational risks from this vulnerability, as it could enable unauthorized personnel to access restricted file transfer operations without proper credentials. The potential impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access to include complete compromise of file transfer security controls, which could result in data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and operational disruption. The limited scenario nature of exploitation suggests that while the vulnerability exists, it may require specific preconditions or attack vectors to be successfully leveraged. This characteristic makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it may not be immediately obvious during routine security assessments, potentially allowing attackers to maintain persistent access to file transfer systems. The issue's presence in multiple release branches indicates that organizations across different deployment scenarios may be at risk, requiring comprehensive patch management strategies.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-5806 should prioritize immediate patch deployment to the affected versions, with particular attention to the specified fixed releases. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected MOVEit Transfer installations across their network infrastructure. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened around affected systems to limit potential exploitation paths, while monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect unusual authentication patterns or unauthorized file transfer activities. Security teams should implement additional authentication layers such as multi-factor authentication for critical file transfer operations, and consider temporary disabling of SFTP functionality until patches are fully deployed and validated. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patched environments to ensure that the vulnerability is properly resolved without introducing new operational issues. Regular security audits and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar authentication weaknesses in other enterprise file transfer systems, aligning with ATT&CK framework techniques related to credential access and privilege escalation. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure readiness for potential exploitation of this vulnerability, particularly focusing on monitoring for unauthorized file access patterns and establishing clear escalation paths for security incidents involving file transfer systems.