Mitigating CVE-2024-8190: OS Command Injection in Ivanti Cloud Services Appliance

Overview of CVE-2024-8190

An OS command injection vulnerability, identified as CVE-2024-8190, has been discovered in versions 4.6 Patch 518 and before of the Ivanti Cloud Services Appliance (CSA). This vulnerability allows a remote authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary OS commands and gain remote code execution, provided they have admin-level privileges.

This vulnerability has significant impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, earning a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.2, categorized as high severity. The vector string representing the vulnerability is CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.

Affected Versions

• Versions 4.6 Patch 518 and earlier are affected.
• Versions 4.6 Patch 519 and version 5.0 are not affected.

Given that the attack complexity is low and the attack vector is network-based, the vulnerability poses a substantial risk to exposed systems.

Technical Impact

The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands, categorized under CWE-78. Successful exploitation can result in complete control over the affected system, allowing the attacker to execute any command with the privileges of the admin user.

Mitigation Steps

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2024-8190, the following steps are recommended:

1. Update to Unaffected Versions: Immediate action should be taken to update the Ivanti Cloud Services Appliance (CSA) to version 4.6 Patch 519 or version 5.0, as these versions are not affected by the vulnerability.
2. Restrict Admin Access: Limit the number of users with admin-level privileges and ensure that admin accounts use strong, unique passwords to reduce the risk of compromised credentials.
3. Network Segmentation: Implement network segmentation to isolate the CSA from other critical network resources, reducing the potential impact of a successful exploitation.
4. Enable Monitoring and Alerts: Enable logging and monitoring to detect any unusual activity, such as unexpected or unauthorized commands executed by applications or users. Use automated tools to alert on suspicious behavior.
5. Regular Security Audits: Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities proactively. This should include reviewing security configurations and applying patches promptly.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has included this vulnerability in its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, as indicated by the alert released on September 13, 2024.

Conclusion

CVE-2024-8190 is a serious OS command injection vulnerability that requires immediate attention. By updating to unaffected versions, implementing access controls and network segmentation, and maintaining vigilant monitoring, organizations can mitigate the risk posed by this vulnerability and safeguard their critical systems.