CVE-2024-23944 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting Apache ZooKeeper, identified as an information disclosure issue. This vulnerability allows attackers to exploit the lack of Access Control List (ACL) checks when persistent watchers are handled. Specifically, attackers can monitor child znodes by attaching a persistent watcher to a parent znode. The ZooKeeper server fails to perform necessary ACL checks when the persistent watcher is triggered, which exposes the full path of znodes associated with the watch event to the owner of the watcher.
The risk to organizations includes potential exposure of sensitive information contained within znode paths, such as usernames or login IDs. Even though the data within the znodes remains protected, the compromised paths can lead to serious security concerns. Given the medium CVSS score of 5.3, organizations should address this vulnerability promptly.
The vulnerability was published on March 15, 2024, and users are strongly recommended to upgrade to versions 3.9.2 or 3.8.4, which include the necessary fixes. Organizations should prioritize patching immediately.
Currently, there are no known exploits for this vulnerability, which underscores the importance of timely remediation to prevent potential future exploitation.
Vulnerability Details
CVE-2024-23944 pertains to an information disclosure vulnerability in Apache ZooKeeper, specifically related to persistent watchers. The vulnerability stems from the absence of an ACL check when a persistent watcher is triggered, allowing unauthorized users to monitor znodes they should not have access to. The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 5.3, classified as medium severity, indicating that while it is not critical, it still poses a significant risk to affected systems.
The affected versions include ZooKeeper versions between 3.6.0 and 3.7.2, as well as versions 3.8.0 through 3.8.4, and 3.9.0 through 3.9.2. Users are encouraged to upgrade to version 3.9.2 or 3.8.4 to mitigate this vulnerability effectively.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2024-23944 lies in the way Apache ZooKeeper handles persistent watchers. When a persistent watcher is attached to a parent znode, the server does not perform an ACL check upon triggering the watcher. This oversight allows attackers with access to the parent znode to monitor the paths of its child znodes.
The attack vector for this vulnerability is local, meaning attackers must have some level of access to the parent znode. The complexity of the attack is low, requiring minimal effort to exploit once access is obtained. Privileges required are low, as attackers only need to have access to the parent znode to exploit this vulnerability.
User interaction is not required, as the vulnerability can be exploited automatically when the watcher is triggered. The confidentiality impact is low, as only the path of the znodes is exposed, not their data. However, the integrity and availability impacts are also low, as the attacker does not gain control over the znodes themselves.
Risk & Impact Analysis
This vulnerability presents a real-world risk to organizations using Apache ZooKeeper, particularly in scenarios where sensitive information is managed through znodes. The potential exposure of znodes' paths can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive user data. Organizations must consider the blast radius of such an exposure, especially if the znode paths contain identifiable user information.
Given the CVSS score of 5.3, organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle. The lack of known exploits currently reduces immediate urgency, but organizations should not underestimate the risk. The low EPSS score indicates a minimal probability of exploitation in the near term; however, the potential for future exploitation remains a concern.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
Apache ZooKeeper versions affected by this vulnerability include:
- All versions from 3.6.0 to 3.7.2 - All versions from 3.8.0 to 3.8.4 (exclusive) - All versions from 3.9.0 to 3.9.2 (exclusive)
Mitigation & Remediation
To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should upgrade to the following versions:
- Upgrade to version 3.9.2 or 3.8.4.
If immediate upgrading is not possible, organizations should consider implementing workarounds such as monitoring and restricting access to znodes, as well as applying configuration hardening strategies.
For further assistance with security assessments, organizations can explore our application security assessment services.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for unusual access patterns to znodes and persistent watchers. Additionally, behavioral anomalies related to znodes should be identified and investigated.
It is crucial to implement network signatures that can detect unauthorized attempts to create persistent watchers on znodes.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2024-23944 highlights the ongoing need for robust security practices in the management of sensitive data within Apache ZooKeeper. This vulnerability illustrates a pattern of misconfigurations that can lead to information disclosure, emphasizing the importance of thorough access controls.
Security teams should take this incident as a learning opportunity to reassess their ACL implementations and monitoring strategies. Regular audits and proactive assessments can help mitigate risks associated with similar vulnerabilities in the future.
For further reading on security best practices, organizations can refer to our guide on penetration testing methodology, or explore our insights on vulnerability management program to enhance your organization's security posture.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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