CVE-2024-24791 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting the Go programming language's net/http HTTP/1.1 client. This vulnerability allows an attacker to exploit a specific mishandling scenario where a server responds to a request with an "Expect: 100-continue" header, resulting in a non-informational status code (200 or higher). The consequence of this mishandling is that it leaves the client connection in an invalid state, leading to failures in subsequent requests sent over that connection.
The risk to organizations includes potential denial of service (DoS), as an attacker can leverage this vulnerability by sending "Expect: 100-continue" requests that trigger non-informational responses from the backend. Each of these requests can leave the proxy with an invalid connection, causing one subsequent request using that connection to fail. This can lead to service disruptions and degraded performance.
With a CVSS score of 7.5, this vulnerability is classified as high severity. Organizations utilizing the Go net/http client should prioritize patching and remediation efforts to protect against potential exploitation. The urgency for defenders is high due to the ease of triggering this vulnerability over a network.
Currently, there are no known exploits, but the exploitability score indicates a significant level of concern. Organizations are advised to monitor their systems and prepare for potential impacts related to this vulnerability.
To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should ensure that they are using the latest versions of the Go programming language and libraries. It is critical to address this vulnerability in the upcoming patch cycles.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability is caused by the mishandling of the "Expect: 100-continue" header in the Go net/http HTTP/1.1 client. When a server responds with a non-informational status, the connection can become invalid for future requests, resulting in failures. This is classified as a denial of service vulnerability.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 7.5, indicating a high severity level. The attack vector is categorized as network, meaning that the vulnerability can be exploited remotely. The attack complexity is low, and no privileges or user interaction are required for exploitation.
This vulnerability was published on July 2, 2024, and is currently awaiting further analysis. Organizations should stay informed about updates and potential patches.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2024-24791 lies in the improper handling of responses when the "Expect: 100-continue" header is used. An attacker sending crafted requests to a Go net/http/httputil.ReverseProxy can exploit this flaw, leading to an invalid connection state.
The attack vector is network-based, allowing remote attackers to exploit the vulnerability without physical access to the target system. The attack complexity is low, meaning that it can be executed with minimal effort. Importantly, no privileges are required for exploitation, and user interaction is not necessary.
The impacts of this vulnerability are primarily on availability, as successful exploitation can cause service interruptions. There are no confidentiality or integrity impacts associated with this vulnerability.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Real-world deployment risks associated with CVE-2024-24791 include the potential for service outages and degraded performance in applications using the Go http client. Given that the vulnerability can be triggered remotely, the blast radius could encompass any organization utilizing the affected libraries.
Organizations should consider the urgency of this vulnerability within the context of their operational environment. The CVSS score of 7.5 indicates that this vulnerability should be addressed promptly. Failure to do so could expose organizations to denial-of-service attacks, impacting availability and user experience.
The EPSS score of 0.01018 and its percentile ranking indicate a relatively low probability of exploitation in the wild. However, organizations should not become complacent, as the potential for denial of service remains a significant concern.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
All versions prior to vendor patch are affected by this vulnerability. Organizations should ensure that they are using the latest version of the Go programming language and associated libraries to mitigate risks.
Mitigation & Remediation
To address CVE-2024-24791, organizations should prioritize patching the Go net/http client libraries. Immediate updates to the latest versions are necessary to mitigate the risk of exploitation. If a patch is unavailable, consider implementing workarounds that involve validating server responses before processing them.
Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network controls that limit the types of requests that can be sent to their proxies. Monitoring for unusual patterns of requests that may indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability should also be part of the security strategy.
For further assistance, organizations may engage in penetration testing to ensure their defenses are robust against similar vulnerabilities.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor their logs for indicators of exploitation attempts. Look for unusual patterns in request headers, particularly those involving the "Expect: 100-continue" header. Behavioral anomalies, such as repeated failures when using the same connection, can also indicate potential exploitation.
Network signatures that identify requests leveraging this vulnerability should be implemented. Additionally, changes to the system that correlate with the timing of exploitation attempts should be closely monitored.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2024-24791 lies in its representation of vulnerabilities that can be exploited through improper request handling in network protocols. This pattern underscores the importance of rigorous testing and validation in software development, particularly for components that handle HTTP requests.
Security teams should take lessons from this vulnerability to enhance their defensive measures. Regular security assessments, including code reviews and penetration testing, will help identify similar weaknesses before they can be exploited. Building a robust threat model that considers such vulnerabilities will significantly improve security postures.
For organizations interested in improving their security capabilities, engaging in red teaming exercises can provide valuable insights into their defenses against potential real-world attacks.
Overall, CVE-2024-24791 serves as a reminder of the criticality of maintaining vigilance in application security, especially for network-facing components.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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