CVE-2024-9617 in danswer
Summary
by MITRE • 03/20/2025
An IDOR vulnerability in danswer-ai/danswer v0.3.94 allows an attacker to view any files. The application does not verify whether the attacker is the creator of the file, allowing the attacker to directly call the GET /api/chat/file/{file_id} interface to view any user's file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-9617 represents a critical insecure direct object reference issue within the danswer-ai/danswer application version 0.3.94. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-284 category, specifically classified as an insecure direct object reference where the application fails to properly validate user permissions before granting access to resources. The flaw exists in the file access control mechanism that governs the GET /api/chat/file/{file_id} endpoint, which serves as the primary interface for retrieving files within the application's architecture. The vulnerability stems from the absence of proper authentication and authorization checks that should verify whether the requesting user has legitimate access rights to the specified file resource.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental breakdown in the application's access control model where the system relies on the file identifier alone to determine access permissions rather than implementing proper user context validation. Attackers can exploit this weakness by directly manipulating the file_id parameter in the API endpoint without requiring legitimate credentials or authorization tokens. This allows unauthorized users to bypass the application's intended access controls and retrieve files that belong to other users. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it affects the core file management functionality of the application, potentially exposing sensitive user data, documents, and confidential information stored within the system's file repository.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it represents a complete failure in the application's security model that could lead to widespread unauthorized access to user content. The affected system architecture lacks proper session management and user context validation mechanisms, creating a scenario where any authenticated user can enumerate and access files belonging to other users within the same system. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in collaborative environments where users may share sensitive documents, research materials, or proprietary information that should remain private to specific individuals or groups. The vulnerability enables attackers to perform reconnaissance activities by systematically accessing files through the API endpoint, potentially leading to data exfiltration, intellectual property theft, or privacy violations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-9617 should focus on implementing robust access control mechanisms that enforce proper authorization checks before granting file access. Organizations should implement proper user context validation by ensuring that each file access request includes verification of the requesting user's identity and their explicit authorization to access the target file. The solution requires implementing a comprehensive permission model that checks whether the authenticated user is the owner of the requested file or has been granted appropriate access rights through proper authorization mechanisms. This aligns with the principle of least privilege and should be implemented using proper session management, token validation, and user context verification techniques. Additionally, the application should implement proper input validation and parameter sanitization to prevent attackers from manipulating file identifiers and should consider implementing rate limiting and logging mechanisms to detect suspicious access patterns. The fix should address the underlying architectural flaw by ensuring that all file access operations require proper authentication tokens and authorization checks, thereby preventing unauthorized access to user resources and aligning with industry best practices for secure application development as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks.