CVE-2024-39710 Overview
CVE-2024-39710 is a critical argument injection vulnerability affecting Ivanti Connect Secure and Ivanti Policy Secure products. This vulnerability allows a remote authenticated attacker with administrative privileges to achieve remote code execution on affected systems. The flaw exists in versions of Ivanti Connect Secure before 22.7R2.1 and 9.1R18.7, as well as Ivanti Policy Secure before version 22.7R1.1.
Critical Impact
This vulnerability enables authenticated administrators to execute arbitrary code remotely, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and lateral movement within enterprise networks.
Affected Products
- Ivanti Connect Secure versions before 22.7R2.1 and 9.1R18.7
- Ivanti Policy Secure versions before 22.7R1.1
- Ivanti Connect Secure versions 22.7, 22.7R1, 22.7R1.1 through 22.7R2
Discovery Timeline
- November 13, 2024 - CVE-2024-39710 published to NVD
- July 11, 2025 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-39710
Vulnerability Analysis
CVE-2024-39710 is classified as an argument injection vulnerability (CWE-88). This class of vulnerability occurs when an application constructs command-line arguments using unsanitized user input, allowing attackers to inject additional arguments that alter the intended behavior of system commands.
In the context of Ivanti Connect Secure and Policy Secure, an authenticated user with administrative access can exploit improper input validation to inject malicious arguments into command execution routines. The scope of this vulnerability extends beyond the vulnerable component itself, potentially impacting other resources and systems within the network infrastructure.
The attack can be executed remotely over the network without requiring user interaction. While administrative privileges are required to exploit this vulnerability, compromised admin credentials or insider threats could leverage this flaw for devastating effect.
Root Cause
The root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper argument validation in Ivanti Connect Secure and Policy Secure. When processing certain administrative functions, the application fails to properly sanitize or validate user-supplied input before incorporating it into command-line arguments. This insufficient input validation allows specially crafted input to break out of the intended argument context and inject additional malicious arguments or commands.
Attack Vector
The attack vector for CVE-2024-39710 is network-based, meaning an attacker can exploit this vulnerability remotely without physical access to the target system. The attack requires:
- Network connectivity to the vulnerable Ivanti appliance
- Valid administrative credentials for authentication
- Access to the vulnerable administrative function
Once authenticated, an attacker can craft malicious input containing injected arguments that, when processed by the vulnerable code path, result in arbitrary command execution on the underlying system. This could enable attackers to install backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive VPN configuration data, compromise user credentials, or use the compromised appliance as a pivot point for further attacks.
The vulnerability mechanism involves insufficient sanitization of input parameters that are subsequently used in command construction. When the application processes administrative requests, user-controllable data is incorporated into system commands without proper escaping or validation, allowing argument injection. For detailed technical information, refer to the Ivanti Security Advisory.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-39710
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual administrative login activity, particularly from unexpected IP addresses or at unusual times
- Unexpected child processes spawned by Ivanti services or unusual command-line arguments in process logs
- Modifications to system files, configuration changes, or new scheduled tasks on the Ivanti appliance
- Network connections from the Ivanti appliance to suspicious external IP addresses or unusual internal targets
Detection Strategies
- Monitor administrative authentication logs for anomalous login patterns or failed authentication attempts followed by successful logins
- Implement process monitoring on Ivanti appliances to detect unexpected command execution or suspicious process trees
- Deploy network traffic analysis to identify unusual outbound connections from VPN appliances
- Review audit logs for administrative actions that could indicate exploitation attempts or post-compromise activity
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable comprehensive logging on Ivanti Connect Secure and Policy Secure appliances, including administrative action logs
- Implement SIEM correlation rules to detect patterns consistent with argument injection exploitation
- Establish baseline behavior for administrative activities and alert on deviations
- Regularly review administrative account access and implement strict access controls for privileged accounts
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-39710
Immediate Actions Required
- Immediately upgrade Ivanti Connect Secure to version 22.7R2.1 or later, or 9.1R18.7 or later
- Upgrade Ivanti Policy Secure to version 22.7R1.1 or later
- Audit all administrative accounts and remove unnecessary privileged access
- Review administrative activity logs for any signs of prior exploitation
Patch Information
Ivanti has released security patches addressing this vulnerability. Organizations should upgrade to the following fixed versions:
- Ivanti Connect Secure: Version 22.7R2.1 or later, or version 9.1R18.7 or later
- Ivanti Policy Secure: Version 22.7R1.1 or later
Detailed patching instructions and release notes are available in the Ivanti Security Advisory.
Workarounds
- Restrict administrative access to trusted networks and IP addresses using access control lists
- Implement multi-factor authentication for all administrative accounts
- Monitor and log all administrative sessions for forensic purposes
- Consider network segmentation to limit the blast radius if an appliance is compromised
# Example: Restrict admin interface access to specific IP ranges
# Consult Ivanti documentation for appliance-specific configuration
# Implement network ACLs to restrict access to management interfaces
# Enable MFA for all administrative accounts via your identity provider
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
