CVE-2024-34785 Overview
CVE-2024-34785 is a SQL injection vulnerability [CWE-89] in Ivanti Endpoint Manager (EPM). The flaw affects EPM 2022 versions prior to Service Update 6 (SU6) and EPM 2024 before the September 2024 security update. A remote authenticated attacker with administrative privileges can exploit the vulnerability to achieve remote code execution on the affected server. Ivanti disclosed the issue in its September 2024 security advisory. The vulnerability carries a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.2 and an EPSS score of 25.389% (97.764 percentile), indicating elevated real-world exploitation probability relative to most CVEs.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation gives an authenticated administrator full remote code execution on the Ivanti EPM server, exposing managed endpoints across the environment.
Affected Products
- Ivanti Endpoint Manager 2022 prior to Service Update 6 (SU6)
- Ivanti Endpoint Manager 2024 prior to the September 2024 security update
- Ivanti EPM 2022 SU1 through SU5 baseline releases
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-09-12 - CVE-2024-34785 published to the National Vulnerability Database
- 2024-09-12 - Ivanti releases the September 2024 EPM security advisory and patches
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-34785
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is a SQL injection flaw in an unspecified component of Ivanti Endpoint Manager. Attacker-controlled input reaches a SQL query without proper parameterization or sanitization. Because EPM executes database operations under a privileged service context, an attacker who influences query construction can move beyond data manipulation and into command execution on the host.
Exploitation requires network access to the EPM management interface and valid administrator credentials. Once these preconditions are met, the attacker submits crafted input through an authenticated administrative function. The injected SQL payload leverages database-layer functionality to invoke operating system commands, achieving remote code execution on the EPM server.
The compromise of an EPM server has downstream consequences. Endpoint Manager is a management platform that pushes software, scripts, and configuration to managed devices. An attacker with code execution on the server can pivot to those managed endpoints using legitimate EPM channels.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper neutralization of special elements used in a SQL command [CWE-89]. The affected code path concatenates user-supplied values into a query string rather than binding them as parameters. Ivanti has not published the specific vulnerable endpoint or parameter.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based and requires prior authentication as an administrator. See the Ivanti Security Advisory September 2024 for vendor guidance. No public proof-of-concept exploit code is available at the time of writing.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-34785
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected outbound network connections originating from the EPM server process or its associated SQL Server host.
- New or modified stored procedures, scheduled tasks, or service accounts on the EPM database.
- Administrative session activity from unusual source IP addresses or outside normal maintenance windows.
- Spawning of cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or xp_cmdshell child processes under the SQL Server service account.
Detection Strategies
- Enable SQL Server auditing to log statements containing suspicious concatenation patterns, UNION SELECT, or EXEC invocations tied to EPM database users.
- Monitor Windows process creation events (Event ID 4688 or Sysmon Event ID 1) for shell processes launched by SQL Server binaries.
- Correlate EPM administrative authentication events with subsequent database-tier activity to identify anomalous query volumes.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Restrict and log all administrator logons to the EPM console and alert on privileged account use outside change windows.
- Baseline normal EPM-to-endpoint software distribution activity and alert on off-schedule policy or package deployments.
- Ingest EPM server, IIS, and SQL Server logs into a centralized data lake for cross-source correlation and retention.
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-34785
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade Ivanti EPM 2022 installations to Service Update 6 (SU6) or later.
- Apply the September 2024 security update to Ivanti EPM 2024 deployments.
- Rotate administrative credentials for the EPM console and the SQL service account after patching.
- Review EPM audit logs for evidence of administrator-authenticated activity from unknown sources prior to patch application.
Patch Information
Ivanti addressed CVE-2024-34785 in the September 2024 security release for both EPM 2022 (SU6) and EPM 2024. Refer to the Ivanti Security Advisory September 2024 for download links and installation guidance. Patching is the only complete remediation.
Workarounds
- Limit network access to the EPM management interface using firewall rules or VPN gating so only trusted administrative subnets can reach it.
- Enforce multi-factor authentication on all EPM administrator accounts to raise the cost of credential compromise.
- Disable xp_cmdshell and other command-execution extensions on the EPM SQL Server instance if not required by the deployment.
- Apply least-privilege principles to the EPM database service account to reduce blast radius from any SQL-tier compromise.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
