CVE-2024-38816 Overview
Applications serving static resources through the functional web frameworks WebMvc.fn or WebFlux.fn are vulnerable to path traversal attacks. An attacker can craft malicious HTTP requests and obtain any file on the file system that is also accessible to the process in which the Spring application is running.
Critical Impact
This vulnerability allows unauthorized access to sensitive files on the system, leading to potential data theft or system compromise.
Affected Products
- Not Available
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-09-13T06:15:11.190 - CVE CVE-2024-38816 published to NVD
- 2025-03-18T15:15:52.397 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-38816
Vulnerability Analysis
This path traversal vulnerability arises when applications configure RouterFunctions to serve static resources using a FileSystemResource path. An absence of robust path sanitization allows malicious actors to access unauthorized files.
Root Cause
The root cause of this vulnerability is the improper handling and sanitization of file paths in RouterFunctions used for serving static resources.
Attack Vector
This vulnerability can be exploited remotely via network-based attacks.
# Example exploitation code (sanitized)
GET /../../../../etc/passwd HTTP/1.1
Host: vulnerable.example.com
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-38816
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual access patterns in server logs
- Requests containing directory traversal sequences like ../
- Access attempts on sensitive files (e.g., /etc/passwd)
Detection Strategies
Monitoring web server logs for unusual access patterns and sequences that indicate path traversal attempts is critical. Establish alerting mechanisms for directory traversal paths.
Monitoring Recommendations
Deploy Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) capable of recognizing directory traversal sequences and suspicious access to non-web directories. Leverage logs from Spring Security if HTTP Firewall is implemented.
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-38816
Immediate Actions Required
- Implement Spring Security HTTP Firewall
- Review and limit the exposure of sensitive directories
- Restrict file permissions as necessary
Patch Information
Not Available
Workarounds
Ensure that RouterFunctions do not expose sensitive files by implementing strict path validation and sanitization for all resource requests.
# Configuration example
# Disable serving static resources
spring.resources.static-locations = "classpath:/static/"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
