CVE-2024-41779: IBM Rhapsody Model Manager RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2024-41779 Overview

CVE-2024-41779 affects IBM Engineering Systems Design Rhapsody - Model Manager versions 7.0.2 and 7.0.3. The vulnerability stems from a race condition [CWE-367] that allows a remote attacker to bypass security restrictions. An attacker who sends a specially crafted request can exploit the timing window to remotely execute code on the affected system.

IBM has published a security advisory acknowledging the issue and provided remediation guidance through its support portal. The flaw requires no authentication and no user interaction, though successful exploitation depends on winning a race condition.

Critical Impact

Remote unauthenticated attackers can execute arbitrary code on affected Rhapsody Model Manager deployments by exploiting a Time-of-Check Time-of-Use (TOCTOU) race condition.

Affected Products

• IBM Engineering Systems Design Rhapsody - Model Manager 7.0.2
• IBM Engineering Systems Design Rhapsody - Model Manager 7.0.3
• Deployments exposing the Model Manager service to untrusted networks

Discovery Timeline

• 2024-11-22 - CVE-2024-41779 published to NVD
• 2025-08-15 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-41779

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is classified under [CWE-367] Time-of-Check Time-of-Use (TOCTOU) race condition. Rhapsody Model Manager validates a condition or security state at one point in execution, then acts on that state at a later point. An attacker who manipulates the underlying resource between the check and the use can bypass the security restrictions enforced during the initial check.

The attack vector is network-based and requires no privileges or user interaction. Attack complexity is high because the attacker must reliably win the race window. Successful exploitation results in remote code execution with full impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Root Cause

The root cause is a lack of atomic enforcement between security validation and the operation that consumes the validated state. The application performs a security check, but the resource state can change before the application uses it. This allows an attacker to substitute attacker-controlled data after authorization succeeds.

Attack Vector

An attacker reaches the Model Manager service over the network and issues a specially crafted request designed to trigger the race condition. By repeatedly racing requests against the vulnerable code path, the attacker bypasses the security restriction and executes code in the context of the Model Manager process. No credentials are required to initiate the attack.

No public proof-of-concept exploit is currently available, and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. The EPSS score is 0.032%, reflecting a low predicted likelihood of exploitation in the near term.

Detailed technical exploitation steps are not disclosed in the IBM advisory. Refer to the IBM Support Page for vendor-supplied remediation details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-41779

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected child processes spawned by the Rhapsody Model Manager service account
• High-frequency, near-simultaneous requests targeting the same Model Manager endpoint, indicative of race condition exploitation attempts
• New or modified files in Model Manager working directories that do not correspond to legitimate user activity
• Outbound network connections from the Model Manager host to unknown external addresses

Detection Strategies

• Monitor process creation events on Rhapsody Model Manager hosts and alert on shells or scripting interpreters launched by the service process
• Inspect web server and application logs for bursts of repeated requests to identical endpoints within short time windows
• Apply behavioral analytics to identify deviations from baseline Model Manager activity, including unusual API call patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

• Forward Rhapsody Model Manager application logs, host process telemetry, and network flow data to a centralized SIEM for correlation
• Establish an authoritative inventory of Model Manager installations and track their version state to prioritize vulnerable hosts
• Alert on authentication bypass indicators such as privileged operations performed without preceding authentication events

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-41779

Immediate Actions Required

• Identify all instances of IBM Engineering Systems Design Rhapsody - Model Manager 7.0.2 and 7.0.3 in your environment
• Apply the fix referenced in the IBM Support Page as soon as operationally feasible
• Restrict network access to Model Manager services to trusted management networks only
• Audit Model Manager hosts for signs of prior exploitation, including unexpected processes and outbound connections

Patch Information

IBM has published remediation guidance for CVE-2024-41779 in its support advisory. Administrators should consult the IBM Support Page for the specific patch or upgrade path applicable to versions 7.0.2 and 7.0.3. Apply the vendor-supplied fix and validate the installation by confirming the updated build identifier in the Model Manager interface.

Workarounds

• Place Model Manager behind a reverse proxy or web application firewall that enforces rate limiting to reduce the feasibility of race condition exploitation
• Limit inbound traffic to Model Manager using network segmentation and firewall rules until the patch is applied
• Run the Model Manager service under a least-privilege account to constrain the impact of successful code execution

# Example: restrict inbound access to Model Manager port using iptables
# Replace 10.0.0.0/24 with your trusted management subnet and PORT with the service port
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport PORT -s 10.0.0.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport PORT -j DROP