CVE-2024-24769 Overview
CVE-2024-24769 affects vantage6, an open-source infrastructure for privacy-preserving analysis. Versions prior to 5.0.0 contain a resource consumption flaw [CWE-400] in the multi-factor authentication (MFA) reset workflow. The API routes that trigger MFA reset emails do not rate-limit outbound messages. An attacker with valid credentials can repeatedly invoke the reset endpoint, flooding a target mailbox and stressing the configured SMTP server. The behavior can also cause the SMTP infrastructure to be flagged as a spam source by upstream providers. Resetting the MFA token still requires the correct account password, which significantly limits real-world impact. Version 5.0.0 resolves the issue.
Critical Impact
Authenticated abuse of the MFA reset endpoint can flood targeted mailboxes and degrade SMTP server reputation, though exploitation requires valid account credentials.
Affected Products
- vantage6 versions prior to 5.0.0
- vantage6 server components exposing MFA reset API routes
- Deployments relying on the bundled SMTP email notification flow
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-06-17 - CVE-2024-24769 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-24769
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is an uncontrolled resource consumption issue in the vantage6 MFA reset workflow. The server exposes API routes that, when invoked, generate and send an MFA reset email to the account owner. The implementation does not enforce throttling, cooldown, or per-account rate limits on these requests.
An authenticated user can repeatedly call the reset endpoint and force the application to emit an unbounded volume of email through the configured SMTP relay. The downstream effects include mailbox flooding for the targeted account and elevated outbound mail volume from the vantage6 SMTP server. Upstream mail providers may classify the sending domain as a spam source, which can disrupt legitimate notifications from the platform.
Root Cause
The root cause is the absence of rate limiting and abuse controls on the MFA reset API routes. The application treats each request as legitimate and dispatches a new email without tracking request frequency, recent send history, or per-identity thresholds, which aligns with [CWE-400] Uncontrolled Resource Consumption.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires network access to the vantage6 API and valid credentials, because completing an MFA reset still requires a correct password. An authenticated attacker, or a user whose credentials have been compromised, scripts repeated calls to the MFA reset endpoint. The vantage6 server then emits one outbound message per request through the SMTP relay, producing mailbox flooding and SMTP load. The vulnerability does not enable account takeover on its own. See the GitHub Security Advisory GHSA-5549-c5q7-fj65 and GitHub Issue #1932 for additional context.
No verified public proof-of-concept code is available. The vulnerability mechanism is described in prose only.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-24769
Indicators of Compromise
- High-frequency requests from a single authenticated session to the MFA reset API route within a short time window.
- Sudden spikes in outbound SMTP volume originating from the vantage6 application server.
- Multiple identical MFA reset emails delivered to the same recipient mailbox in rapid succession.
- Bounce notifications or spam classifications from upstream mail providers targeting the vantage6 SMTP sender.
Detection Strategies
- Inspect application logs for repeated calls to MFA reset endpoints by the same user identifier or source IP.
- Correlate API access logs with SMTP relay logs to flag bursts of reset-triggered messages.
- Alert on outbound email rate anomalies on the host running vantage6.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Track per-user request rates on authentication and MFA endpoints and establish a baseline.
- Monitor SMTP server reputation, queue depth, and rejection rates from upstream providers.
- Forward vantage6 application and mail server logs to a centralized analytics platform for retention and correlation.
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-24769
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade vantage6 to version 5.0.0 or later, which removes the unrestricted MFA reset email behavior.
- Audit accounts and credentials with access to the vantage6 API and rotate any that may have been shared or exposed.
- Review SMTP relay logs for prior abuse and confirm sender reputation with upstream mail providers.
Patch Information
The maintainers fixed the issue in vantage6 5.0.0. Review the GitHub Release Notes v5.0.0 for upgrade guidance and breaking changes before deployment.
Workarounds
- No vendor-supported workarounds are available for affected versions according to the advisory.
- Operators can apply external rate limiting at a reverse proxy or API gateway in front of the MFA reset routes as a compensating control.
- Restrict SMTP relay throughput at the mail server to bound damage from abusive senders.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
