CVE-2024-45507: Apache OFBiz SSRF Vulnerability

CVE-2024-45507 Overview

CVE-2024-45507 is a critical vulnerability affecting Apache OFBiz, an open-source enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. This vulnerability combines Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) with Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection'), creating a severe security risk that allows unauthenticated remote attackers to potentially execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems.

The vulnerability exists in Apache OFBiz versions prior to 18.12.16. Apache OFBiz is widely used by organizations for e-commerce, supply chain management, and various enterprise automation processes, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for business-critical environments.

Critical Impact

This vulnerability allows unauthenticated remote attackers to perform SSRF attacks and potentially inject malicious code, leading to complete system compromise including data theft, system manipulation, and lateral movement within enterprise networks.

Affected Products

• Apache OFBiz versions before 18.12.16
• All deployments using vulnerable OFBiz versions for ERP and e-commerce operations
• Enterprise environments running unpatched Apache OFBiz instances

Discovery Timeline

• September 4, 2024 - CVE-2024-45507 published to NVD
• November 21, 2024 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-45507

Vulnerability Analysis

CVE-2024-45507 represents a compound vulnerability that chains Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) with Code Injection capabilities. This combination allows attackers to exploit the application in multiple ways, potentially bypassing network security controls and executing arbitrary code on the target system.

The SSRF component enables attackers to force the server to make requests to arbitrary internal or external destinations, potentially accessing internal services, cloud metadata endpoints, or other resources not intended to be publicly accessible. When combined with the code injection aspect, attackers can leverage these requests to inject and execute malicious code within the application context.

The vulnerability requires no authentication and can be exploited remotely over the network with low attack complexity, making it highly dangerous for internet-facing Apache OFBiz deployments.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2024-45507 stems from insufficient input validation and improper handling of user-controlled data in Apache OFBiz. The application fails to properly sanitize and validate input that is subsequently used in server-side request generation and code execution contexts.

This weakness falls under CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code), indicating that the application allows untrusted input to influence dynamically generated code, creating an opportunity for attackers to inject malicious instructions.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for CVE-2024-45507 is network-based, allowing remote exploitation without requiring any user interaction or prior authentication. An attacker can craft malicious requests targeting vulnerable Apache OFBiz endpoints to trigger both the SSRF and code injection behaviors.

The exploitation flow typically involves sending specially crafted HTTP requests to the vulnerable OFBiz instance. The SSRF component can be leveraged to access internal resources or metadata services, while the code injection aspect allows for the execution of attacker-controlled code on the server.

For detailed technical information about the vulnerability mechanism and exploitation techniques, refer to the Apache OFBiz Issue Tracker and the Openwall OSS-Security Update.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-45507

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual outbound network connections from OFBiz servers to internal services or cloud metadata endpoints (e.g., 169.254.169.254)
• Unexpected HTTP requests originating from the OFBiz application to internal IP ranges
• Evidence of code execution artifacts or new processes spawned by the OFBiz application
• Anomalous log entries showing malformed or suspicious request parameters targeting OFBiz endpoints
• Unexpected file system modifications or new files created in OFBiz directories

Detection Strategies

• Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block SSRF patterns and code injection attempts targeting OFBiz endpoints
• Monitor network traffic for signs of internal service enumeration or requests to cloud metadata endpoints originating from OFBiz servers
• Implement application-level logging to capture suspicious request patterns and parameter manipulation attempts
• Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to monitor for unexpected process execution or file system changes on OFBiz hosts

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable comprehensive request logging for all Apache OFBiz endpoints to capture potentially malicious request patterns
• Configure network monitoring to alert on outbound connections from OFBiz servers to sensitive internal resources
• Implement real-time alerting for any code execution anomalies or suspicious process activity on systems running OFBiz
• Regularly review OFBiz application logs for indicators of exploitation attempts or reconnaissance activity

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-45507

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade Apache OFBiz to version 18.12.16 or later immediately
• If immediate patching is not possible, consider taking vulnerable OFBiz instances offline or restricting network access
• Audit OFBiz server logs for any signs of exploitation attempts
• Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential SSRF attacks from OFBiz servers
• Review and restrict outbound network connectivity from OFBiz application servers

Patch Information

Apache has released version 18.12.16 of OFBiz which addresses this vulnerability. Users are strongly recommended to upgrade to this version or later. The patch can be obtained from the OFBiz Download Page.

For additional security information and guidance, consult the OFBiz Security Information page and the Apache Mailing List Discussion for detailed patch notes and migration instructions.

Workarounds

• Deploy a web application firewall (WAF) with rules to filter malicious requests targeting known SSRF and code injection patterns
• Implement strict network egress filtering to prevent OFBiz servers from making unauthorized outbound connections
• Use network segmentation to isolate OFBiz servers from sensitive internal resources and cloud metadata endpoints
• Consider placing OFBiz behind a reverse proxy with request validation capabilities to filter potentially malicious input

# Network restriction example - block metadata endpoint access
# Add to iptables rules on OFBiz server
iptables -A OUTPUT -d 169.254.169.254 -j DROP

# Restrict outbound connections to only necessary destinations
iptables -A OUTPUT -m state --state NEW -j LOG --log-prefix "OFBiz Outbound: "