CVE-2024-11320: Pandora FMS LDAP RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2024-11320 Overview

CVE-2024-11320 is a command injection vulnerability [CWE-77] in the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) authentication mechanism of Pandora FMS. The flaw allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the server hosting the monitoring platform. Affected versions span from Pandora FMS 700 through 777.4. The vulnerability affects the authentication flow, meaning untrusted input reaches a command interpreter during the LDAP login process. Exploitation enables attackers to run operating system commands within the context of the Pandora FMS service account.

Critical Impact

Successful exploitation results in arbitrary command execution on the Pandora FMS server, allowing attackers to compromise the monitoring infrastructure and pivot to monitored assets.

Affected Products

• Pandora FMS version 700 (initial affected release)
• Pandora FMS versions 700 through 777.4 (inclusive)
• Deployments using LDAP authentication backend

Discovery Timeline

• 2024-11-21 - CVE-2024-11320 published to the National Vulnerability Database
• 2024-11-26 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-11320

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in the LDAP authentication routine of Pandora FMS. User-controlled input submitted during authentication is passed to a system command interpreter without adequate sanitization. This mishandling maps to [CWE-77], Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command. Attackers can append shell metacharacters or command separators to authentication parameters. The injected payload is then executed by the underlying operating system shell. Because the flaw lives in the authentication mechanism, the entry point is exposed wherever the login interface is reachable, including network-facing deployments.

Root Cause

The root cause is the unsafe construction of a shell command using attacker-controlled LDAP authentication input. The Pandora FMS code path concatenates user-supplied values into a command string and invokes the system shell. Without input validation or safe API usage, special characters break out of the intended argument context. This allows arbitrary command execution under the privileges of the Pandora FMS web service account.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based, targeting the Pandora FMS web authentication interface. Exploitation requires high privileges according to the CVSS 4.0 vector and involves user interaction during authentication flow. An authenticated administrator-level actor, or an attacker who has obtained such credentials, can supply crafted input to trigger command execution. The EPSS score of 92.623% indicates a high likelihood of exploitation activity relative to other CVEs. No verified public proof-of-concept is currently listed for this CVE. See the Pandora FMS Vulnerabilities Overview for vendor technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-11320

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected child processes spawned by the Pandora FMS web service or PHP-FPM worker, such as /bin/sh, bash, nc, curl, or wget invocations.
• Anomalous outbound network connections originating from the Pandora FMS server immediately following LDAP authentication attempts.
• Authentication log entries containing shell metacharacters (;, |, `, $(, &&) in LDAP username or related fields.
• New or modified files in web-accessible directories on the Pandora FMS host following login activity.

Detection Strategies

• Inspect Pandora FMS authentication and audit logs for malformed LDAP usernames containing command injection syntax.
• Monitor process lineage on the Pandora FMS server for the web server or PHP process spawning shell utilities.
• Correlate failed and successful LDAP authentication events with subsequent outbound network activity from the host.

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose authentication logging on Pandora FMS and forward events to a centralized SIEM for analysis.
• Alert on process execution events where the parent is the Pandora FMS service and the child is an interpreter or networking tool.
• Track file integrity for the Pandora FMS installation directory and web root to detect post-exploitation artifacts.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-11320

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade Pandora FMS to a release later than 777.4 that addresses CVE-2024-11320, as published on the Pandora FMS security advisory page.
• Restrict network access to the Pandora FMS management interface using firewall rules or VPN-only access until patching is complete.
• Audit existing administrative accounts and rotate credentials for any account with access to LDAP authentication configuration.
• Review web server and Pandora FMS logs for prior exploitation indicators before applying the patch.

Patch Information

Pandora FMS has documented this vulnerability on its CVE disclosure page. Administrators should consult the Pandora FMS Vulnerabilities Overview for the fixed version number and upgrade instructions. Apply the vendor-provided update to all instances running versions 700 through 777.4.

Workarounds

• Disable the LDAP authentication backend and switch to a local or alternative authentication method until the patch is applied.
• Place the Pandora FMS console behind a reverse proxy or web application firewall that filters shell metacharacters in authentication parameters.
• Limit access to the login interface to a small set of trusted source IP addresses through network segmentation.

# Example firewall restriction limiting access to the Pandora FMS console
# Replace 10.0.0.0/24 with your trusted management network
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -s 10.0.0.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -j DROP