CVE-2024-31851: CData Sync Path Traversal Vulnerability

CVE-2024-31851 Overview

CVE-2024-31851 is a path traversal vulnerability [CWE-22] in the Java version of CData Sync prior to 23.4.8843. The flaw resides in deployments using the embedded Jetty server. An unauthenticated remote attacker can traverse directories to access sensitive files and perform limited actions on the host. The vulnerability requires no user interaction and is exploitable over the network. EPSS data places exploitation probability at 89.293% (99.557 percentile), indicating high attacker interest.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated remote attackers can read sensitive files and perform limited actions on vulnerable CData Sync Java instances using the embedded Jetty server.

Affected Products

• CData Sync (Java edition) versions prior to 23.4.8843
• Deployments running the embedded Jetty server
• Systems exposing the CData Sync web interface to untrusted networks

Discovery Timeline

• 2024-04-05 - CVE-2024-31851 published to NVD
• 2026-04-15 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-31851

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability exists in the Java build of CData Sync when served through the embedded Jetty web server. CData Sync is a data replication and integration tool used to synchronize data between SaaS applications, databases, and cloud platforms. The embedded Jetty server fails to properly normalize and validate request paths, permitting traversal sequences to escape the intended web root.

An unauthenticated attacker can craft HTTP requests containing directory traversal payloads such as ../ sequences. These requests reach files outside the directories intended for web exposure. The result is disclosure of sensitive configuration, credentials, or replication metadata stored on the server.

The attack vector is fully remote and requires no authentication or user interaction. Integrity and availability impacts are limited, but confidentiality impact is high because configuration files and stored credentials are commonly readable through the traversal.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory [CWE-22]. The embedded Jetty handler in affected CData Sync builds does not sufficiently canonicalize user-supplied path components before resolving file resources. Encoded or relative path separators bypass the intended directory boundary.

Attack Vector

Exploitation occurs through specially crafted HTTP requests to the CData Sync web interface. The attacker submits a URL containing traversal sequences targeting files outside the served directory. No credentials, tokens, or session cookies are required. See the Tenable Research Advisory for technical details on the request structure and affected endpoints.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-31851

Indicators of Compromise

• HTTP requests to CData Sync endpoints containing ../, ..%2f, ..%5c, or double-encoded traversal sequences
• Web server access logs showing successful 200 responses to URLs referencing system paths such as /etc/passwd, WEB-INF/, or CData configuration files
• Outbound connections from CData Sync hosts to unknown destinations following anomalous inbound web traffic
• Unexpected reads of CData Sync configuration directories containing stored connection credentials

Detection Strategies

• Inspect Jetty access logs for path traversal patterns and URL-encoded variants targeting the CData Sync web service
• Deploy web application firewall rules that block directory traversal payloads against the management interface
• Correlate inbound HTTP requests with subsequent file access events on the CData Sync host using endpoint telemetry

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose request logging on the embedded Jetty server and forward to a centralized SIEM for retention and analysis
• Alert on any HTTP 200 responses where the request URI contains traversal sequences or encoded separators
• Monitor for unauthorized read access to files containing CData Sync connection strings and synchronization job definitions

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-31851

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade CData Sync Java edition to version 23.4.8843 or later without delay
• Restrict network access to the CData Sync management interface using firewall rules or reverse proxy allowlists
• Audit stored credentials and connection strings managed by CData Sync, rotating any that may have been exposed
• Review Jetty access logs for historical evidence of traversal attempts predating the patch

Patch Information

CData has addressed the vulnerability in CData Sync version 23.4.8843. Administrators must upgrade the Java edition specifically, as the fix targets the embedded Jetty server path handling. Refer to the Tenable Research Advisory for the disclosure details and fixed version reference.

Workarounds

• Place the CData Sync web interface behind a reverse proxy that normalizes and filters request paths before forwarding
• Apply network segmentation to limit access to the embedded Jetty server to trusted administrator hosts only
• Configure a web application firewall to block requests containing directory traversal payloads against CData Sync URIs