CVE-2024-7928 in FastAdmin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/20/2024
A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, has been found in FastAdmin up to 1.3.3.20220121. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the file /index/ajax/lang. The manipulation of the argument lang leads to path traversal. The attack may be launched remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. Upgrading to version 1.3.4.20220530 is able to address this issue. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/14/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-7928 represents a critical path traversal flaw within the FastAdmin content management framework affecting versions up to 1.3.3.20220121. This security weakness resides in the /index/ajax/lang endpoint where improper input validation allows attackers to manipulate the lang parameter, enabling unauthorized access to arbitrary files on the server filesystem. The vulnerability classification as problematic indicates significant risk potential given its remote exploitation capability and the fact that a public exploit has been disclosed, making it immediately actionable by threat actors. Path traversal vulnerabilities typically fall under CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The attack vector being remotely accessible through the ajax endpoint means that malicious actors can exploit this weakness without requiring physical access to the system or prior authentication, significantly broadening the attack surface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits insufficient input sanitization within the FastAdmin framework's language handling mechanism. When the lang parameter is processed through the /index/ajax/lang endpoint, the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input before using it to construct file paths. This allows an attacker to inject directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\ that can navigate outside the intended directory structure and access sensitive files that should remain restricted. The exploitation process typically involves crafting malicious requests that manipulate the lang argument to traverse the filesystem hierarchy and retrieve unauthorized data, potentially including configuration files, database credentials, or other sensitive system information. This type of vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, which covers discovering file and directory permissions, and T1566, which covers credential access through various attack vectors including path traversal.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can potentially enable more sophisticated attacks including arbitrary code execution, privilege escalation, or complete system compromise. Attackers can leverage this weakness to access not only application configuration files but also potentially sensitive data stored on the server, leading to data breaches, service disruption, or unauthorized access to backend systems. The fact that this vulnerability has been publicly disclosed and is actively exploited increases the urgency for remediation, as threat actors are already using this technique to target vulnerable installations. Organizations running affected versions of FastAdmin face immediate risk of unauthorized access and data compromise, particularly in environments where the application is exposed to untrusted networks or where multiple applications share common infrastructure. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of language switching within the application, making it a fundamental security issue that impacts the entire application stack rather than just a specific module.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading the FastAdmin framework to version 1.3.4.20220530 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the path traversal vulnerability. This upgrade process should be prioritized and implemented as soon as possible, with thorough testing to ensure compatibility with existing applications and configurations. Additionally, organizations should implement network-level controls such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious path traversal attempts, though this represents a secondary defense mechanism. System administrators should also conduct comprehensive audits of their FastAdmin installations to identify any other potential vulnerabilities or misconfigurations that could compound the risk. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual access patterns or attempts to traverse directories within the application, and access controls should be reviewed to ensure that only authorized users can access the affected endpoints. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of regular security updates and proper input validation in web applications, particularly those handling user-supplied parameters that influence file system operations. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege access controls and regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors.