CVE-2024-27316 is a high-severity vulnerability in the Apache HTTP Server, identified with a CVSS score of 7.5. This vulnerability allows excessive HTTP/2 incoming headers to be buffered temporarily, which can lead to memory exhaustion if a client continues to send headers without stopping. The implications of this vulnerability are significant, as it can result in denial of service, impacting server availability.
Organizations are at risk due to the potential for attackers to exploit this vulnerability to exhaust memory resources, leading to service disruptions. The vulnerability is currently known to have an exploit available in the wild, which heightens the urgency for organizations to act. Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to prevent unauthorized disruptions to services.
This vulnerability was published on April 4, 2024, and affects various versions of Apache HTTP Server, Fedora, and NetApp's ONTAP. Given its high profile and exploitability status, it is crucial for organizations using affected systems to assess their risk and implement necessary updates.
The urgency for defenders cannot be overstated. With known exploits available, organizations must take immediate action to secure their systems against potential attacks leveraging this vulnerability.
Vulnerability Details
The official description of CVE-2024-27316 states that HTTP/2 incoming headers exceeding the limit are temporarily buffered in nghttp2 to generate an informative HTTP 413 response. If a client does not stop sending headers, this leads to memory exhaustion. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-770, which indicates a failure to restrict or limit the number of resources allocated to a process, potentially leading to a denial of service.
The CVSS vector for this vulnerability is CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H, where the availability impact is rated as high. This means that a successful exploitation of this vulnerability can significantly affect the availability of the affected services.
The affected products include Apache HTTP Server, Fedora version 38, 39, and 40, and NetApp ONTAP version 9. Organizations using these products should verify their versions against the provided criteria.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the handling of HTTP/2 incoming headers. When headers exceed a predefined limit, they are buffered temporarily. However, if clients continue to send headers without stopping, this can lead to memory exhaustion. The attack vector is classified as network-based, allowing remote attackers to trigger this condition.
The attack complexity is low, requiring no special privileges or user interaction to exploit. Attackers may leverage this vulnerability to disrupt service availability, highlighting the critical need for organizations to implement appropriate security measures.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Risk to organizations includes potential service disruptions caused by memory exhaustion, leading to denial of service. The blast radius for this vulnerability could affect all users accessing the Apache HTTP Server, making it particularly critical for organizations relying on this technology.
Given the CVSS score of 7.5 and the availability impact rated as high, organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle. The combination of exploitability and impact emphasizes the urgency for immediate remediation.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | Yes |
Public PoC | Yes |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
This vulnerability affects Apache HTTP Server versions from 2.4.17 to 2.4.59, as well as Fedora versions 38, 39, and 40, and NetApp ONTAP version 9. Organizations should ensure they are running patched versions of affected products.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should apply the latest patches for Apache HTTP Server to address this vulnerability. If a patch is unavailable, consider implementing network controls to limit HTTP/2 traffic and monitor for anomalous behavior. Organizations should also review their configuration and ensure that memory limits are set appropriately to mitigate the risk of exhaustion.
For more in-depth analysis and tailored penetration testing services, organizations may engage with professionals through penetration testing to identify similar weaknesses across their systems.
Detection Guidance
Monitor logs for unusual patterns of HTTP/2 header requests, particularly those that continue to grow in size unexpectedly. Behavioral anomalies related to service availability should also be logged and reviewed. Establish network signatures that can alert on excessive memory usage or repeated failures in service availability.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2024-27316 lies in its demonstration of the vulnerabilities present in HTTP/2 implementations. This vulnerability represents a trend towards increased exploitation of protocol-specific weaknesses and emphasizes the need for security teams to proactively assess and fortify their systems against similar threats.
Organizations should adopt a comprehensive penetration testing methodology to identify and remediate potential vulnerabilities in their infrastructure.
The lessons learned from this vulnerability should guide security teams in their defensive strategies, emphasizing the importance of continuous vulnerability management and proactive security assessments.
For organizations looking to enhance their security posture, engaging in vulnerability management programs can significantly reduce the risk of such vulnerabilities being exploited.
In conclusion, CVE-2024-27316 is a reminder of the need for vigilance in security practices, particularly in the face of evolving web protocols. Security teams must remain proactive in their defenses to mitigate risks.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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