CVE-2024-42640 is classified as a critical vulnerability with a CVSS score of 9.8, affecting angular-base64-upload versions prior to v0.1.21. This vulnerability allows unauthenticated remote code execution via demo/server.php, enabling attackers to upload arbitrary content to the server. The potential for exploitation is severe as uploaded content can be executed, leading to code execution on the server. Organizations using unsupported versions of this software are at risk, emphasizing the urgency for remediation.
The severity of this vulnerability is underscored by its high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, all rated as high. Attackers may leverage this vulnerability to compromise systems, making it crucial for organizations to prioritize patching immediately. The exploitation status is marked as confirmed with known exploits available, indicating a heightened risk for organizations that have not yet upgraded.
Given the potential for significant impact, organizations must act swiftly to mitigate risks associated with CVE-2024-42640. Ensuring that all systems are updated to the latest supported versions is critical. This vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining software and prompt remediation to protect against evolving threats.
The vulnerability was published on October 11, 2024, and remains in a deferred status. Organizations should remain vigilant and monitor for any developments regarding this issue while ensuring they have appropriate security measures in place.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability is officially described as follows: 'angular-base64-upload prior to v0.1.21 is vulnerable to unauthenticated remote code execution via demo/server.php. Exploiting this vulnerability allows an attacker to upload arbitrary content to the server, which can subsequently be accessed through demo/uploads. This leads to the execution of previously uploaded content and enables the attacker to achieve code execution on the server. NOTE: This vulnerability only affects products that are no longer supported by the maintainer.'
This vulnerability falls under the category of remote code execution and has been assigned a CVSS score of 9.8, which categorizes it as critical. The attack vector is network-based, and it requires no privileges or user interaction, making it easily exploitable by malicious actors.
The vulnerability affects angular-base64-upload versions prior to v0.1.21 with a high risk due to the ability to upload and execute arbitrary code remotely.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of file uploads within the service. The demo/server.php file is not secured against unauthorized access, allowing attackers to upload malicious files without any authentication checks. Once the files are uploaded, they can be accessed via demo/uploads, where they can be executed, leading to full control over the server.
The attack vector is through the network, with low complexity for execution. No privileges are required, and user interaction is not necessary, making it straightforward for attackers to exploit. The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is rated as high, indicating significant potential damage if exploited.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Risk to organizations includes the potential for complete system compromise, unauthorized access to sensitive data, and the possibility of further attacks leveraging the initial breach. The blast radius could extend to any system connected to the vulnerable server, leading to widespread impacts across the network.
Given the critical CVSS score and confirmed exploit availability, organizations should prioritize remediation immediately. The urgency of addressing this vulnerability cannot be overstated, as failure to patch may lead to severe data breaches and operational disruptions.
Organizations must conduct a thorough assessment of their environments to identify any instances of angular-base64-upload and take immediate action to upgrade or implement compensating controls to mitigate the risk.
To aid in mitigation efforts, organizations can refer to resources such as penetration testing and application security assessments to identify weaknesses and validate remediation strategies.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | Yes |
Public PoC | Yes |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
This vulnerability impacts all versions of angular-base64-upload prior to v0.1.21. Organizations using these versions should upgrade to the latest version to mitigate the risk of exploitation.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should implement the following recommendations to address this vulnerability:
1. Upgrade to angular-base64-upload v0.1.21 or later.
2. If immediate upgrade is not feasible, consider implementing web application firewalls (WAFs) to monitor and block suspicious file uploads.
3. Regularly review and audit your server configurations to ensure secure file upload practices.
4. Organizations should validate remediation through penetration testing to identify similar weaknesses.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation of this vulnerability, organizations should monitor for the following indicators:
1. Log entries indicating file uploads to demo/uploads.
2. Unusual server behavior or unauthorized access attempts.
3. Anomalies in application performance or resource utilization.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2024-42640 lies in its demonstration of the critical need for robust file upload handling in web applications. Organizations must recognize the potential risks associated with improper input validation and take proactive measures to secure their applications.
This vulnerability represents a trend in vulnerabilities related to remote code execution through insecure file uploads, emphasizing the necessity for security teams to adopt best practices for application security.
Security teams should leverage this incident as a learning opportunity to enhance their application security posture, ensuring that all file uploads are subjected to strict validation and monitoring controls.
Organizations should continuously evaluate their security measures and invest in penetration testing methodologies to stay ahead of emerging threats.
Furthermore, organizations should consider implementing regular security assessments to identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
Known Exploitation Timeline
As of now, CVE-2024-42640 has not been included in the KEV catalog, indicating that while it is recognized as a critical vulnerability, it has not yet been associated with known exploitation incidents in the wild.
EPSS Risk Context
The EPSS score for CVE-2024-42640 is 0.857, placing it in the 99.38 percentile, indicating a high probability of exploitation. Organizations should consider this risk level seriously when assessing their 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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