CVE-2024-46981 is a high-severity vulnerability that affects the Redis component within the Debian Linux environment. This vulnerability allows authenticated users to manipulate the garbage collector using specially crafted Lua scripts, which could potentially lead to remote code execution. The impact of this vulnerability can be significant as it enables unauthorized access and control over the affected systems.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 7, indicating a high severity. Organizations using affected versions of Redis should be aware of the urgency to apply patches or implement workarounds. The vulnerability was published on January 6, 2025, and immediate action is required to protect systems from exploitation.
Risk to organizations includes potential unauthorized access to sensitive information and disruption of services. Given the exploitability of this vulnerability, organizations should prioritize patching immediately.
The vulnerability has been confirmed to have associated exploitation vectors, with known exploits found, which heightens the urgency for remediation.
Vulnerability Details
According to the official description, Redis is an open-source, in-memory database that persists on disk. The vulnerability arises when an authenticated user leverages a crafted Lua script that interacts with the garbage collector, potentially leading to remote code execution. This issue has been addressed in versions 7.4.2, 7.2.7, and 6.2.17.
The CVSS score of 7 indicates a high severity level, emphasizing the critical nature of this vulnerability for systems running Redis on Debian. The attack vector is local, requiring an attacker to have authenticated access to the system.
The potential impacts include high confidentiality, integrity, and availability risks, as attackers may gain control over the system and execute arbitrary code.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of Lua scripts within the Redis environment, specifically related to the garbage collector. This mismanagement allows attackers to craft scripts that manipulate memory and execution flow.
This vulnerability requires low privileges for exploitation, as an authenticated user can execute Lua scripts without additional user interaction. The complexity of the attack is classified as high, as it necessitates knowledge of Lua scripting and the Redis environment.
The impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability are critical, with potential disruptions to services and exposure of sensitive data.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world deployment risk of this vulnerability is substantial, especially for organizations that rely on Redis for critical operations. Attackers may leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code, potentially leading to full system compromise.
The urgency for organizations to address this vulnerability cannot be overstated. Given the high CVSS score and the confirmed existence of exploits, it is imperative that organizations prioritize patching and implement necessary security measures.
The blast radius of this vulnerability is high, as successful exploitation can affect not only the individual Redis instances but also compromise the broader network infrastructure.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | Yes |
Public PoC | Yes |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The affected versions of Redis include all versions prior to 7.4.2, 7.2.7, and 6.2.17. Organizations should ensure they upgrade to these patched versions to mitigate the risk associated with this vulnerability.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should address this vulnerability by applying the available patches promptly. The latest versions of Redis that fix this issue are 7.4.2, 7.2.7, and 6.2.17. If immediate patching is not feasible, a workaround is to restrict the execution of Lua scripts by using ACL to limit access to the EVAL and EVALSHA commands.
For further guidance on effective remediation practices, organizations can consider engaging in penetration testing to evaluate their security posture.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation attempts, organizations should monitor logs for unusual Lua script execution and any unexpected behavior in Redis operations. Behavioral anomalies and network signatures indicating unauthorized access attempts should also be investigated.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2024-46981 lies in its demonstration of how local vulnerabilities can be exploited to achieve remote code execution. It highlights the importance of securing scripting capabilities in database environments.
This vulnerability represents a broader trend of increasing risks associated with misconfigured or overly permissive environments, particularly in web application frameworks and database systems. Security teams should prioritize these areas in their assessments.
Organizations can learn from this incident by implementing stricter access controls and regularly reviewing permissions related to scripting features in their applications. Additionally, conducting regular audits can help identify and mitigate similar vulnerabilities.
For more insights into vulnerability management practices, organizations can refer to resources on vulnerability management programs and effective penetration testing methodologies to enhance overall security practices.
Known Exploitation Timeline
As of now, there are no known active exploitation cases reported for this vulnerability, but organizations are urged to remain vigilant.
EPSS Risk Context
The EPSS score for this vulnerability stands at 0.7574, placing it in the 98.89 percentile. This indicates a high likelihood of exploitation, underscoring the need for immediate action.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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