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CVE-2024-47554: Medium Vulnerability in Apache Commons IO

CVE-2024-47554 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting Apache Commons IO, specifically the XmlStreamReader class. It allows for excessive CPU resource consumption when processing crafted input. Organizations should prioritize patching to version 2.14.0 or later to mitigate this risk.

MEDIUMPublic ExploitCVSS 4.3 · Published October 3, 2024

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CVE-2024-47554 is a medium-severity vulnerability classified as an uncontrolled resource consumption issue in Apache Commons IO. This vulnerability allows the org.apache.commons.io.input.XmlStreamReader class to excessively consume CPU resources when processing maliciously crafted input. The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 4.3, indicating a moderate level of risk.

Organizations utilizing affected versions of Apache Commons IO should urgently address this issue, as failure to do so may lead to performance degradation or denial of service scenarios in their applications. The vulnerability impacts all versions of Apache Commons IO prior to 2.14.0. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 2.14.0 or later to mitigate this risk.

The vulnerability was published on October 3, 2024, and is currently classified as analyzed. With known exploits available, organizations must act swiftly to protect their systems.

Given the nature of this vulnerability and its potential impact on system resources, organizations should prioritize patching immediately. The risk to organizations includes potential service disruption and resource exhaustion.

Vulnerability Details

The vulnerability allows excessive consumption of CPU resources due to the processing of maliciously crafted input by the XmlStreamReader class. It affects Apache Commons IO versions from 2.0 up to, but not including, 2.14.0. Users should upgrade to version 2.14.0 or later to mitigate this vulnerability.

Technical Analysis

The root cause of CVE-2024-47554 is attributed to the manner in which the XmlStreamReader processes input. When faced with specially crafted XML data, the class can enter a state that leads to excessive CPU usage. The attack vector is network-based, requiring low attack complexity. Importantly, no privileges are required to exploit this vulnerability, and user interaction is necessary to trigger the exploit by providing malicious input.

Risk & Impact Analysis

The potential blast radius of this vulnerability can affect any application relying on vulnerable versions of Apache Commons IO. Organizations must recognize that the risk to their systems includes performance degradation and possible denial of service. The urgency of addressing this issue is emphasized by its CVSS score of 4.3, placing it in the medium severity category. Given the availability of known exploits, organizations should prioritize patching in their immediate response plans.

Exploitation Status

Signal

Status

Known Exploit

Yes

Public PoC

Yes

Actively Exploited

No

Ransomware Use

No

Affected Versions

The affected versions of Apache Commons IO include all versions from 2.0 up to, but not including, 2.14.0. Users must upgrade to version 2.14.0 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.

Mitigation & Remediation

To address CVE-2024-47554, organizations should update their systems to Apache Commons IO version 2.14.0 or later. If patching is not immediately feasible, organizations should implement configuration hardening and network controls to limit exposure to malicious input. For further guidance, organizations can refer to the application security assessment to evaluate their current security posture.

Detection Guidance

Organizations should monitor logs for indicators of excessive CPU usage and unusual application behavior that may suggest attempts to exploit this vulnerability. Behavioral anomalies and network signatures associated with malformed XML input should be prioritized in detection strategies.

AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight

CVE-2024-47554 highlights the importance of managing resource consumption vulnerabilities within applications. The potential for denial of service underscores the need for proactive security measures. Security teams should implement continuous monitoring and regularly review their continuous penetration testing practices to identify similar weaknesses. Furthermore, adherence to best practices in application security can significantly reduce the risk of such vulnerabilities being exploited.

The emergence of public proof of concepts and exploit availability indicates a trend towards increased vulnerability exploitation. Organizations must remain vigilant and adapt their security strategies accordingly.

For further insights on security best practices, organizations can consult the penetration testing methodology blog post.

Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.

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