CVE-2024-7074 in API Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 06/02/2025
An arbitrary file upload vulnerability exists in multiple WSO2 products due to improper validation of user input in SOAP admin services. A malicious actor with administrative privileges can upload an arbitrary file to a user-controlled location on the server.
By leveraging this vulnerability, an attacker could upload a specially crafted payload, potentially achieving remote code execution (RCE) on the server. Exploitation requires valid admin credentials, limiting its impact to authorized but potentially malicious users.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/03/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-7074 represents a critical arbitrary file upload flaw within multiple WSO2 products that stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within SOAP admin services. This weakness manifests when administrative users interact with the system's web services, where the application fails to properly sanitize or validate file upload parameters, creating an exploitable pathway for malicious actors. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates within the administrative context of the application, where elevated privileges are already granted to legitimate users. The flaw allows for the upload of files to arbitrary locations on the server filesystem, bypassing normal security restrictions that would typically prevent such unrestricted file placement. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-434 category of Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type, which specifically addresses scenarios where applications allow file uploads without proper validation of file types or content, creating opportunities for attackers to upload malicious payloads.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file placement, as it provides a potential pathway for remote code execution when combined with appropriate malicious payloads. An attacker who has already compromised administrative credentials can leverage this vulnerability to upload web shells, malicious scripts, or other executable content to the server. The ability to place files in user-controlled locations means that attackers can potentially upload content that will be executed by the web server or application, depending on the target location and file type. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the legitimate administrative service endpoints, making it difficult to detect through standard network monitoring or intrusion detection systems that might not flag legitimate administrative traffic as suspicious. The attack vector requires valid administrative credentials, which places this vulnerability in the category of privilege escalation or lateral movement attacks rather than initial access, but it significantly amplifies the impact of compromised administrative accounts.
Security professionals should approach this vulnerability with a comprehensive mitigation strategy that addresses both the immediate threat and underlying architectural weaknesses. The primary recommendation involves implementing robust input validation mechanisms that enforce strict file type checking, size limitations, and content sanitization before any file processing occurs. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls that limit administrative service exposure to trusted networks only, reducing the attack surface for potential exploitation. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should specifically target administrative service endpoints to identify similar validation flaws. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for Valid Accounts and T1566.001 for Phishing, as it requires legitimate administrative credentials to exploit effectively and represents a common attack pattern in supply chain and insider threat scenarios. Organizations should also implement proper logging and monitoring of administrative service usage, including file upload activities, to detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include immediate patching of affected WSO2 products, along with a thorough review of all administrative service endpoints to ensure similar validation flaws have not been overlooked in other components of the application stack.