CVE-2024-7923 in Satellite 6
Summary
by MITRE • 09/04/2024
An authentication bypass vulnerability has been identified in Foreman when deployed with Gunicorn versions prior to 22.0, due to the puppet-foreman configuration. This issue arises from Apache's mod_proxy not properly unsetting headers because of restrictions on underscores in HTTP headers, allowing authentication through a malformed header. This flaw impacts all active Satellite deployments (6.13, 6.14 and 6.15) which are using Pulpcore version 4.0+ and could potentially enable unauthorized users to gain administrative access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2025
The vulnerability CVE-2024-7923 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw affecting Foreman deployments with specific Gunicorn configurations, fundamentally compromising the security posture of Red Hat Satellite environments. This issue stems from a complex interaction between web server proxy configurations and HTTP header handling mechanisms that creates an exploitable gap in the authentication process. The vulnerability specifically targets deployments where Foreman operates alongside Gunicorn versions earlier than 22.0, creating a dangerous condition where legitimate authentication mechanisms can be circumvented through carefully crafted header manipulation.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in Apache's mod_proxy module's improper handling of HTTP headers containing underscores, a restriction that prevents the complete removal of authentication-related headers during proxy operations. This header sanitization failure creates a condition where malformed headers can persist and be interpreted by the application as valid authentication tokens, effectively allowing attackers to bypass the normal authentication flow. The flaw operates at the intersection of HTTP protocol handling and application security controls, where the web server's proxy behavior directly impacts the application's ability to properly validate user credentials. This type of vulnerability is classified under CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication scenarios, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.101 for valid accounts and T1566.001 for spearphishing via social media, as it enables unauthorized access through manipulated authentication headers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching across all active Satellite deployments including versions 6.13, 6.14, and 6.15 that utilize Pulpcore version 4.0 or higher. These environments face potential compromise where unauthorized users could gain administrative privileges, leading to complete system takeover and data exfiltration capabilities. The vulnerability affects not just individual systems but entire organizational infrastructures that rely on Satellite for system management and orchestration. Organizations using these versions are particularly at risk because the flaw exists in widely deployed configurations, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking persistent access to critical infrastructure management systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-7923 must address both the immediate configuration issues and implement broader security controls to prevent similar vulnerabilities. The primary recommendation involves upgrading Gunicorn to version 22.0 or later, which resolves the header handling behavior that enables the bypass. Additionally, organizations should implement Apache configuration changes to properly sanitize headers before proxying requests, specifically addressing the underscore restriction limitations. Network-level controls including firewall rules and proxy configuration reviews should be implemented to prevent unauthorized access patterns. Security teams must also conduct comprehensive audits of all Satellite deployments to identify affected systems and implement monitoring for suspicious authentication patterns. The remediation process should include validating that authentication headers are properly stripped and sanitized during proxy operations, aligning with security best practices for web application deployments and following the principle of least privilege as outlined in NIST SP 800-53.