CVE-2024-29836: Evolution Controller Auth Bypass Flaw

CVE-2024-29836 Overview

CVE-2024-29836 is a critical Broken Access Control vulnerability affecting CS-Technologies Evolution Controller web interface. The vulnerability exists in Evolution Controller versions 2.04.560.31.03.2024 and below, where poorly configured access control mechanisms allow unauthenticated attackers to update and add user profiles within the application. Successful exploitation grants full administrative access to the affected system without requiring any authentication.

Critical Impact

An unauthenticated remote attacker can create arbitrary user accounts or modify existing profiles to gain full administrative access to the Evolution Controller system, potentially leading to complete system compromise.

Affected Products

• CS-Technologies Evolution Controller versions 2.04.560.31.03.2024 and below
• CS-Technologies Evolution web interface

Discovery Timeline

• April 15, 2024 - CVE-2024-29836 published to NVD
• December 10, 2025 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-29836

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability stems from improper access control implementation in the Evolution Controller's web interface. The affected system fails to properly validate user authentication and authorization before allowing access to critical user management functions. This architectural flaw enables any network-accessible attacker to interact with privileged administrative endpoints without presenting valid credentials.

The vulnerability is particularly severe because it allows not just viewing but also modification of user accounts. An attacker can create new administrative users or elevate privileges of existing accounts, effectively bypassing all authentication mechanisms designed to protect the system. This represents a complete failure of the access control security model.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2024-29836 is poorly configured access control within the Evolution Controller web application. The application fails to implement proper authentication checks on user management endpoints, allowing unauthenticated requests to modify user profiles and create new accounts. This is classified under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control), indicating a fundamental design flaw in how the application validates user permissions before executing sensitive operations.

Attack Vector

The attack can be executed remotely over the network without requiring any user interaction or prior authentication. An attacker with network access to the Evolution Controller's web interface can directly invoke user management functions to:

1. Create new user accounts with administrative privileges
2. Modify existing user profiles to escalate privileges
3. Gain persistent access to the system by establishing backdoor accounts

The attack is straightforward to execute due to the lack of authentication requirements on the vulnerable endpoints. Once access is obtained, the attacker has full control over the Evolution Controller system.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-29836

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected user accounts appearing in the Evolution Controller user database
• Unauthorized modifications to existing user profiles or privilege levels
• Web server logs showing unauthenticated requests to user management endpoints
• Evidence of administrative actions performed by unknown or newly created accounts

Detection Strategies

• Monitor Evolution Controller access logs for requests to user management endpoints from unauthenticated sessions
• Implement network-level monitoring to detect reconnaissance and exploitation attempts targeting the web interface
• Regularly audit user accounts and privileges to identify unauthorized additions or modifications
• Deploy web application firewalls (WAF) to detect and block suspicious requests to administrative functions

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging on Evolution Controller web interface access
• Set up alerts for new user account creation or privilege modifications
• Monitor network traffic patterns for unusual activity targeting Evolution Controller management ports
• Implement Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) correlation rules to detect exploitation attempts

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-29836

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict network access to the Evolution Controller web interface to trusted IP ranges only
• Implement additional authentication mechanisms at the network level (VPN, firewall rules)
• Audit existing user accounts for any unauthorized additions or modifications
• Monitor system logs for evidence of prior exploitation attempts
• Contact CS-Technologies for updated firmware or patches addressing this vulnerability

Patch Information

Organizations should consult the DirectCyber vulnerability analysis for detailed technical information about this vulnerability. Contact CS-Technologies directly to obtain security patches or firmware updates that address this access control flaw. Ensure systems are updated to versions higher than 2.04.560.31.03.2024 when patches become available.

Workarounds

• Place the Evolution Controller behind a properly configured firewall with strict access control lists
• Implement network segmentation to isolate the controller from untrusted network segments
• Use a VPN or other secure remote access solution if remote management is required
• Deploy a reverse proxy with authentication in front of the Evolution Controller web interface
• Disable the web interface entirely if not required for operations until a patch is available

# Example firewall configuration to restrict access
# Allow only trusted management IP addresses to access the Evolution Controller
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -s 192.168.1.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -s 192.168.1.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -j DROP
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -j DROP