CVE-2024-38819: Spring Framework Path Traversal Flaw

CVE-2024-38819 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 an attacker to perform unauthorized file retrieval, potentially leading to further compromise if sensitive information is disclosed.

Affected Products

• Spring Framework with WebMvc.fn
• Spring Framework with WebFlux.fn
• Not Available

Discovery Timeline

• 2024-12-19T18:15:10.557 - CVE CVE-2024-38819 published to NVD
• 2025-01-10T13:15:09.287 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-38819

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability exists within the handling of static resources by the WebMvc.fn and WebFlux.fn frameworks in Spring. Due to insufficient sanitization of file paths, attackers can exploit path traversal to access files outside the intended directories.

Root Cause

The core issue is improper input validation when resolving file system paths, allowing traversal characters like ../ to provide unauthorized file access.

Attack Vector

Attackers leverage the network by sending specially crafted HTTP requests targeting the web application’s file-serving endpoints.

// Example exploitation code (sanitized)
String path = request.getParameter("path");
File file = new File("/static/" + path);
FileInputStream fis = new FileInputStream(file);

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-38819

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual access patterns in server logs
• Unauthorized requests to static resources
• Access errors for non-existent file paths

Detection Strategies

Utilize logfile analysis tools to detect suspicious path traversal patterns and anomalous access requests. Implement IDS/IPS solutions to identify unexpected file access.

Monitoring Recommendations

Regularly audit access logs for patterns indicating traversal attempts and integrate monitoring solutions to trigger alerts for unauthorized access patterns.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-38819

Immediate Actions Required

• Review and sanitize file path inputs
• Implement strict file access policies
• Deploy Web Application Firewalls (WAF) to block traversal attacks

Patch Information

Refer to the Spring advisory for patch details: Spring Security Advisory

Workarounds

Utilize input validation frameworks to enforce strict path constraints and remove traversal sequences before processing file paths.

# Configuration example
location ~ ^/static/(.*)$ {
    allow all;
    if ($request_uri ~ "\.\./") {
        return 403;
    }
}