CVE-2024-22263: Spring Cloud Data Flow Path Traversal Flaw

CVE-2024-22263 Overview

CVE-2024-22263 is an arbitrary file write vulnerability in the Skipper server component of Spring Cloud Data Flow. Spring Cloud Data Flow provides microservices-based streaming and batch data processing for Cloud Foundry and Kubernetes. The Skipper server accepts package upload requests through its REST API. Improper sanitization of the upload path allows an authenticated attacker to craft a request that writes arbitrary files to any location on the underlying file system. Successful exploitation can lead to full compromise of the server. The flaw is categorized under [CWE-434] Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type.

Critical Impact
An authenticated attacker with access to the Skipper server API can write arbitrary files to the host file system and achieve remote code execution, leading to complete server compromise.

Affected Products

Spring Cloud Data Flow (Skipper server component)
Deployments on Cloud Foundry
Deployments on Kubernetes

Discovery Timeline

2024-06-19 - CVE-2024-22263 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-22263

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in the package upload handler of the Skipper server. Skipper is the sub-component of Spring Cloud Data Flow responsible for managing the lifecycle of streaming application packages. The upload endpoint accepts a package archive along with metadata that includes file naming information. The server uses attacker-influenced path elements when constructing the destination path for the uploaded artifact. Because the input is not properly validated or canonicalized, path traversal sequences allow the resulting file to escape the intended package directory.

An attacker with valid credentials for the Skipper API can leverage this flaw to overwrite existing files, drop web shells, replace configuration files, or plant executables in locations processed by scheduled jobs. Writing to sensitive paths on the host, such as application binaries or startup scripts, converts the file write primitive into arbitrary code execution under the privileges of the Skipper process.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing sanitization of the upload path parameter in the Skipper server package upload API. The server concatenates untrusted input into the file system path without rejecting .. sequences or absolute paths. This is a classic [CWE-434] weakness combined with directory traversal behavior.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires network access to the Skipper server API and valid low-privilege credentials. The attacker sends a crafted HTTP upload request that supplies path traversal sequences in the file naming metadata. No user interaction is required. Full technical details are available in the Spring Security Advisory CVE-2024-22263.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-22263

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected files appearing outside the Skipper package storage directory on hosts running Spring Cloud Data Flow.
Modified or newly created files in system directories, cron paths, or web-accessible directories owned by the Skipper service account.
Skipper process spawning shells, scripting interpreters, or reverse-shell binaries.

Detection Strategies

Inspect Skipper server access logs for POST requests to package upload endpoints containing .., URL-encoded traversal sequences, or absolute paths in filename fields.
Correlate authenticated API activity with file system changes on the Skipper host to identify writes outside expected package directories.
Alert on process creation events where the Skipper JVM process is the parent of shell or interpreter processes.

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable verbose audit logging on the Skipper API and forward events to a centralized SIEM.
Deploy file integrity monitoring on directories writable by the Skipper service account and on system paths on the host.
Restrict and monitor which accounts hold roles able to invoke the upload endpoint.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-22263

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade Spring Cloud Data Flow and the Skipper server to the fixed versions listed in the Spring Security Advisory CVE-2024-22263.
Rotate any credentials that were valid on Skipper API accounts and audit account provisioning.
Review file system changes on Skipper hosts since the vulnerable version was deployed and investigate any anomalies.

Patch Information

VMware released fixed versions of Spring Cloud Data Flow addressing the improper path sanitization in the Skipper upload handler. Refer to the Spring Security Advisory CVE-2024-22263 for the specific fixed release numbers applicable to your deployment.

Workarounds

Restrict network access to the Skipper server API so that only trusted management systems and operators can reach the upload endpoint.
Enforce least privilege on Skipper API roles and remove upload permissions from accounts that do not require them.
Run the Skipper server as a non-privileged user in an isolated container or namespace to limit the blast radius of an arbitrary file write.

bash

# Configuration example: restrict Skipper API exposure via network policy (Kubernetes)
# Only allow the Data Flow server namespace to reach Skipper.
apiVersion: networking.k8s.io/v1
kind: NetworkPolicy
metadata:
  name: skipper-restrict-ingress
spec:
  podSelector:
    matchLabels:
      app: spring-cloud-skipper-server
  policyTypes:
    - Ingress
  ingress:
    - from:
        - namespaceSelector:
            matchLabels:
              name: scdf-control-plane
      ports:
        - protocol: TCP
          port: 7577