EUVD-2024-2112

Comprehensive Technical Analysis of EUVD-2024-2112

1. Vulnerability Assessment and Severity Evaluation

The vulnerability identified in the EUVD-2024-2112 entry pertains to a path traversal issue in the /v1/runs API endpoint of lightning-ai/pytorch-lightning version 2.2.4. This vulnerability allows attackers to exploit the extraction process of tar.gz files, potentially leading to arbitrary file writes and remote code execution (RCE).

Severity Evaluation:

• CVSS Base Score: 9.1
• CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H

The high base score of 9.1 indicates a critical vulnerability. The CVSS vector breakdown shows that the attack can be executed remotely (AV:N), requires low complexity (AC:L), does not need privileges (PR:N) or user interaction (UI:N), and has a high impact on integrity (I:H) and availability (A:H).

2. Potential Attack Vectors and Exploitation Methods

Attack Vectors:

1. Remote Exploitation: An attacker can remotely exploit the vulnerability by sending a specially crafted tar.gz file to the /v1/runs API endpoint.
2. Path Traversal: The malicious tar.gz file can contain files with path traversal sequences (e.g., ../../etc/passwd), allowing the attacker to write files to arbitrary locations on the victim's file system.

Exploitation Methods:

1. Malicious Plugin Deployment: An attacker can deploy a malicious plugin containing a tar.gz file with path traversal vulnerabilities.
2. Arbitrary File Write: The attacker can write arbitrary files to any directory, potentially overwriting critical system files or injecting malicious code.
3. Remote Code Execution: By writing executable files to sensitive directories, the attacker can achieve RCE, leading to complete system compromise.

3. Affected Systems and Software Versions

Affected Software:

• lightning-ai/pytorch-lightning version 2.2.4

Affected Systems:

• Any system running the LightningApp with the plugin_server enabled and using the vulnerable version of pytorch-lightning.

4. Recommended Mitigation Strategies

1. Update Software: Upgrade to the latest version of lightning-ai/pytorch-lightning (version 2.3.3 or later), which includes a fix for this vulnerability.
2. Input Validation: Implement strict input validation for files uploaded to the /v1/runs API endpoint to prevent path traversal attacks.
3. Access Controls: Restrict access to the /v1/runs API endpoint to trusted users and systems.
4. Monitoring and Logging: Enhance monitoring and logging to detect and respond to suspicious activities related to file uploads and API interactions.
5. Network Segmentation: Segment the network to limit the exposure of critical systems and reduce the attack surface.

5. Impact on European Cybersecurity Landscape

The vulnerability poses a significant risk to organizations and individuals using lightning-ai/pytorch-lightning within the European Union. The potential for RCE can lead to data breaches, system compromises, and disruptions in services, impacting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information systems. Given the critical nature of the vulnerability, it is essential for organizations to prioritize patching and implementing robust security measures to mitigate the risk.

6. Technical Details for Security Professionals

Vulnerability Details:

• CVE ID: CVE-2024-5980
• GHSA ID: GHSA-mr7h-w2qc-ffc2
• Affected Endpoint: /v1/runs API endpoint
• Exploitation Mechanism: Path traversal during tar.gz file extraction

References:

• NVD Entry
• GitHub Pull Request
• GitHub Release
• GitHub Repository
• Huntr Bounty

Assigner:

• @huntr_ai

EPSS Score:

• 1 (indicating a low likelihood of exploitation in the wild, but this should not deter from immediate mitigation efforts)

ENISA IDs:

• Product: lightning-ai/pytorch-lightning (unspecified ≤latest)
• Vendor: lightning-ai

By addressing this vulnerability promptly and comprehensively, organizations can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation and ensure the security and integrity of their systems.