CVE-2024-21887 Overview
A command injection vulnerability in web components of Ivanti Connect Secure (9.x, 22.x) and Ivanti Policy Secure (9.x, 22.x) allows an authenticated administrator to send specially crafted requests and execute arbitrary commands on the appliance.
Critical Impact
This vulnerability permits remote code execution, allowing an attacker full control over the affected systems, leading to potential data breaches and system disruption.
Affected Products
- Ivanti Connect Secure 9.x
- Ivanti Policy Secure 9.x
- Ivanti Connect Secure 22.x
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-01-12 - CVE CVE-2024-21887 published to NVD
- 2025-10-31 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-21887
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the command execution flow within the web components of the affected Ivanti products. An authenticated administrator can exploit this flaw by injecting malicious commands that the appliance executes without any validation.
Root Cause
Improper validation of user-supplied input in the web interface allows command injection, leading to arbitrary command execution in the application context.
Attack Vector
The attack is initiated over a network, where an authenticated administrator sends a specially crafted HTTP request to exploit the command injection flaw.
# Example exploitation code (sanitized)
POST /admin/command HTTP/1.1
Host: vulnerable.example.com
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded
command=;malicious_command;
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-21887
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected commands executed on appliances
- Logs showing irregular HTTP requests to management interfaces
- Unusual administrative activities outside of standard operation hours
Detection Strategies
Monitor web server logs for HTTP requests containing unexpected shell metacharacters or patterns indicating command injection attempts. Use network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) to capture and analyze suspicious network traffic targeting administrative interfaces.
Monitoring Recommendations
Implement continuous log analysis to spot anomalies in HTTP requests and system command execution logs. Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions like SentinelOne to actively monitor and alert on suspicious activities within the network.
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-21887
Immediate Actions Required
- Restrict administrative access to trusted IPs only.
- Disable any unused administrative interfaces.
- Monitor logs for anomalies and escalate suspicious findings immediately.
Patch Information
Ivanti has released patches to address this vulnerability. It is critical to apply these patches immediately to all affected versions. Refer to Ivanti's vendor advisory for detailed patch information.
Workarounds
Until patches can be applied, administrators should limit network access to the management interfaces and utilize VPN solutions to create a secure channel for administrator connections.
# Configuration example
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp -s TRUSTED_IP --dport 80 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -j DROP
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
