CVE-2024-2227: SailPoint IdentityIQ Path Traversal Flaw

CVE-2024-2227 Overview

CVE-2024-2227 is a path traversal vulnerability affecting SailPoint IdentityIQ that allows unauthorized access to arbitrary files within the application server's file system. This vulnerability stems from an incomplete remediation of CVE-2020-6950, a path traversal flaw in JavaServer Faces (JSF) 2.2.20. Despite previous security fixes announced in May 2021 (ETN IIQSAW-3585) and January 2024 (IIQFW-336), the underlying vulnerability persisted, requiring additional remediation measures.

Critical Impact

Attackers can exploit this path traversal vulnerability remotely without authentication to read sensitive files from the application server, potentially exposing configuration files, credentials, and other confidential data critical to enterprise identity governance operations.

Affected Products

• SailPoint IdentityIQ 8.1 (Patch 1 through Patch 6)
• SailPoint IdentityIQ 8.2 (Base through Patch 5)
• SailPoint IdentityIQ 8.3 (Base through Patch 2)
• SailPoint IdentityIQ 8.4 (Base version)

Discovery Timeline

• 2024-03-22 - CVE-2024-2227 published to NVD
• 2025-11-12 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-2227

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-22 (Path Traversal), enabling attackers to access files and directories stored outside the intended web root folder. The vulnerability exploits improper validation of user-supplied input in file path parameters, allowing the use of special character sequences (such as ../) to traverse directory structures and access restricted resources.

The root issue originates from the JavaServer Faces (JSF) 2.2.20 framework vulnerability documented in CVE-2020-6950. While SailPoint implemented remediation measures in previous patches, these fixes were incomplete, leaving the application susceptible to path traversal attacks through alternative encoding techniques or bypass methods.

Root Cause

The vulnerability exists due to insufficient input sanitization when processing file path requests within the IdentityIQ application. The JSF framework's resource handling mechanism fails to properly validate and normalize path inputs, allowing specially crafted requests to bypass security controls designed to restrict file access to the web application's designated directory structure.

Attack Vector

The attack can be executed remotely over the network without requiring any authentication or user interaction. An attacker sends specially crafted HTTP requests containing path traversal sequences to the IdentityIQ application. These malicious requests manipulate the file path parameter to escape the web root directory and access sensitive files on the server.

The attack typically involves:

1. Identifying vulnerable JSF resource endpoints in the IdentityIQ application
2. Crafting requests with encoded or manipulated path traversal sequences
3. Submitting requests to retrieve files such as configuration files, properties files, or system files containing sensitive information

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-2227

Indicators of Compromise

• HTTP requests containing encoded path traversal sequences such as %2e%2e%2f or ..%2f targeting JSF resource endpoints
• Unusual access patterns to IdentityIQ resource handlers with directory traversal patterns
• Server log entries showing requests for sensitive system files like /etc/passwd, web.xml, or application configuration files
• Failed or successful file access attempts outside the expected web root directory structure

Detection Strategies

• Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block path traversal patterns including ../, ..\\, and various URL-encoded variants
• Implement file integrity monitoring on sensitive configuration files and directories accessible to the IdentityIQ application server
• Configure intrusion detection systems to alert on HTTP requests containing path traversal signatures targeting JSF endpoints
• Enable verbose logging on the IdentityIQ application server to capture detailed request information for forensic analysis

Monitoring Recommendations

• Monitor application server logs for anomalous file access requests, particularly those targeting paths outside the IdentityIQ web application directory
• Set up alerts for requests containing path traversal character sequences in URL parameters or request bodies
• Track access to sensitive identity governance data and configuration files for unauthorized read attempts
• Implement security information and event management (SIEM) correlation rules to identify potential exploitation patterns

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-2227

Immediate Actions Required

• Apply the latest security patches from SailPoint that address CVE-2024-2227 for your specific IdentityIQ version
• Review SailPoint Security Advisories for official guidance and patch availability
• Restrict network access to IdentityIQ deployments using firewalls and access control lists to limit exposure
• Conduct a security assessment to identify any indicators of prior exploitation

Patch Information

SailPoint has released security fixes to address this vulnerability. Organizations running affected versions of IdentityIQ should consult the SailPoint Security Advisory for specific patch versions and update instructions. The remediation provides additional changes beyond the previous fixes tracked by ETN IIQSAW-3585 and IIQFW-336 to fully address the path traversal vulnerability.

Workarounds

• Deploy a web application firewall with path traversal detection rules in front of IdentityIQ to filter malicious requests
• Implement strict input validation at the application server level to reject requests containing directory traversal sequences
• Restrict file system permissions for the application server process to limit access to only essential directories and files
• Consider network segmentation to isolate IdentityIQ deployments from untrusted networks until patches can be applied

# Example WAF rule to block common path traversal patterns
# Add to ModSecurity or similar WAF configuration
SecRule REQUEST_URI "@rx (\.\./|\.\.\\|%2e%2e%2f|%2e%2e/|\.\.%2f|%252e%252e%252f)" \
    "id:1001,phase:1,deny,status:403,msg:'Path Traversal Attempt Blocked'"