CVE-2024-29838: Cs-technologies Evolution DoS Vulnerability

CVE-2024-29838 Overview

CVE-2024-29838 affects the web interface of CS-Technologies Evolution Controller versions 2.04.560.31.03.2024 and earlier. The web interface fails to properly sanitize user input, allowing an unauthenticated remote attacker to crash the controller software. The flaw maps to [CWE-20] Improper Input Validation and [CWE-908] Use of Uninitialized Resource. Because the Evolution Controller is an access control device, a successful attack disrupts physical security operations until the controller is restarted.

Critical Impact
Unauthenticated network attackers can send malformed input to the web interface and crash the controller, producing a denial-of-service condition on a physical access control system.

Affected Products

CS-Technologies Evolution Controller versions 2.04.560.31.03.2024 and below
Web interface component of the Evolution Controller
Deployments exposing the controller management interface over the network

Discovery Timeline

2024-04-15 - CVE-2024-29838 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2025-12-10 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-29838

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in input handling within the Evolution Controller web interface. The interface accepts user-supplied data without enforcing validation or sanitization on length, type, or structure. When malformed input reaches downstream processing routines, the controller software terminates abnormally. The classification under [CWE-908] indicates that uninitialized resources are referenced as part of the failure path, contributing to the crash condition.

The attack does not require authentication or user interaction. An attacker only needs network reachability to the controller's web management interface. Exploitation does not yield code execution or data disclosure, but it removes the controller from service. For physical access control deployments, this can interrupt badge readers, door locks, and audit logging until administrators restore the device.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing input validation on parameters accepted by the web interface. The application trusts client-supplied values and forwards them to internal handlers that cannot tolerate unexpected formats. Combined with the use of uninitialized resources during error handling, malformed requests propagate into a fatal state rather than being rejected at the input boundary.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based. An attacker sends crafted HTTP requests to the controller's web interface from any host that can reach it. Because no credentials are required, exposure of the management interface to untrusted networks or shared VLANs significantly increases risk. Refer to the Direct Cyber advisory covering CVE-2024-29836 through CVE-2024-29844 for the technical write-up covering this family of issues.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-29838

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected restarts or unresponsive states of Evolution Controller devices
HTTP requests to the controller web interface containing malformed parameters, oversized fields, or non-printable characters
Gaps in access control event logs that correlate with controller downtime
Repeated connection attempts from unfamiliar source addresses targeting the controller management port

Detection Strategies

Monitor controller availability with active health checks and alert on service interruptions
Inspect network traffic destined for controller management interfaces for anomalous request patterns
Correlate firewall and access control logs to identify pre-crash request bursts from external sources

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable centralized logging from Evolution Controllers and forward to a SIEM for correlation with network telemetry
Configure uptime alerts so administrators receive immediate notice when a controller stops responding
Track source IP addresses interacting with the web interface and baseline expected administrator hosts

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-29838

Immediate Actions Required

Restrict network access to the Evolution Controller web interface to a dedicated management VLAN
Place the controller behind a firewall that only permits traffic from authorized administrator workstations
Contact CS-Technologies for a fixed firmware release and apply it once available
Review access control event logs for unexplained controller outages

Patch Information

No vendor advisory URL is referenced in the NVD entry for CVE-2024-29838. Administrators should contact CS-Technologies directly for remediation guidance and any firmware version that supersedes 2.04.560.31.03.2024. Until a patched build is confirmed, network segmentation is the primary control.

Workarounds

Block inbound access to the controller web interface from all networks except a hardened management subnet
Disable remote access to the web interface when administration is not actively required
Deploy an upstream reverse proxy or web application firewall to filter malformed requests
Implement strict access control lists on switches and firewalls protecting the controller

bash

# Example firewall rule restricting controller web interface to a management subnet
# Replace 10.10.50.0/24 with your management network and 10.20.0.10 with the controller IP
iptables -A FORWARD -p tcp -s 10.10.50.0/24 -d 10.20.0.10 --dport 443 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A FORWARD -p tcp -d 10.20.0.10 --dport 443 -j DROP
iptables -A FORWARD -p tcp -d 10.20.0.10 --dport 80  -j DROP