EUVD-2024-2569

Comprehensive Technical Analysis of EUVD-2024-2569

1. Vulnerability Assessment and Severity Evaluation

The vulnerability identified in EUVD-2024-2569 affects the CometVisu visualization add-on for openHAB, an open-source home automation software. The vulnerability allows unauthenticated access to file system endpoints and is susceptible to path traversal, enabling an attacker to overwrite existing files on the openHAB instance. This can lead to remote code execution (RCE) if the overwritten file is a shell script that is executed later.

Severity Evaluation:

• CVSS Base Score: 9.8 (Critical)
• CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

The high base score indicates a critical vulnerability due to the following factors:

• Attack Vector (AV:N): Network-based attack, which means it can be exploited remotely.
• Attack Complexity (AC:L): Low complexity, indicating that the attack is relatively easy to execute.
• Privileges Required (PR:N): No privileges are required, meaning unauthenticated attackers can exploit this vulnerability.
• User Interaction (UI:N): No user interaction is required.
• Scope (S:U): Unchanged, meaning the vulnerability does not affect other systems beyond the initial scope.
• Confidentiality (C:H), Integrity (I:H), Availability (A:H): High impact on all three CIA triad components.

2. Potential Attack Vectors and Exploitation Methods

Attack Vectors:

• Unauthenticated Access: An attacker can access the file system endpoints without authentication.
• Path Traversal: The attacker can exploit the path traversal vulnerability to navigate through the file system and overwrite critical files.

Exploitation Methods:

• File Overwrite: The attacker can overwrite existing files, such as configuration files or executable scripts.
• Remote Code Execution (RCE): If the overwritten file is a shell script that is executed later, the attacker can inject malicious code to gain control over the system.

3. Affected Systems and Software Versions

Affected Software:

• openHAB CometVisu Add-on: Versions prior to 4.2.1

Affected Systems:

• Any system running openHAB with the CometVisu add-on version prior to 4.2.1.

4. Recommended Mitigation Strategies

Immediate Mitigation:

• Upgrade: Users should upgrade to CometVisu version 4.2.1 or later, which includes a patch for this vulnerability.

Additional Mitigation:

• Network Segmentation: Isolate openHAB instances from public networks to limit exposure.
• Access Controls: Implement strict access controls and authentication mechanisms.
• Monitoring: Enable logging and monitoring to detect any suspicious activities.
• Regular Audits: Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments.

5. Impact on European Cybersecurity Landscape

The vulnerability poses a significant risk to the European cybersecurity landscape, particularly for users of openHAB, which is widely used for home automation. The potential for RCE can lead to severe consequences, including data breaches, unauthorized access, and loss of control over smart home devices. This underscores the importance of timely patching and robust security measures for IoT and home automation systems.

6. Technical Details for Security Professionals

Vulnerability Details:

• Unauthenticated File System Endpoints: The CometVisu add-on exposes file system endpoints without requiring authentication.
• Path Traversal: The endpoint for updating files is vulnerable to path traversal, allowing an attacker to navigate and overwrite files outside the intended directory.

Exploitation Steps:

1. Identify Target: Locate an openHAB instance running a vulnerable version of CometVisu.
2. Access Endpoint: Access the unauthenticated file system endpoint.
3. Path Traversal: Use path traversal techniques to navigate to the target file.
4. Overwrite File: Overwrite the target file with malicious content.
5. Execute Code: If the overwritten file is a shell script, wait for it to be executed to gain control.

References:

• GitHub Security Advisory
• NVD CVE-2024-42469
• GitHub Commit
• openHAB WebUI Repository

Aliases:

• CVE-2024-42469
• GHSA-f729-58x4-gqgf

Assigner:

• GitHub_M

EPSS Score:

• 5 (indicating a moderate likelihood of exploitation in the wild)

ENISA IDs:

• Product: openhab-webui, versions < 4.2.1
• Vendor: openhab

This comprehensive analysis highlights the critical nature of the vulnerability and the urgent need for mitigation to protect openHAB users from potential attacks.