CVE-2024-4956 Overview
Path Traversal in Sonatype Nexus Repository 3 allows an unauthenticated attacker to read system files. Fixed in version 3.68.1.
Critical Impact
This vulnerability can lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive system files, potentially exposing critical configuration and credential information.
Affected Products
- Sonatype Nexus Repository 3.68.0 and earlier
Discovery Timeline
- Not Available - Vulnerability discovered by Not Available
- Not Available - Responsible disclosure to Not Available
- Not Available - CVE CVE-2024-4956 assigned
- Not Available - Not Available releases security patch
- 2024-05-16 - CVE CVE-2024-4956 published to NVD
- 2024-11-21 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-4956
Vulnerability Analysis
This path traversal vulnerability can be exploited by an unauthenticated attacker to read arbitrary files on the server. This could include sensitive configuration files such as /etc/passwd, which could compromise the system's security posture.
Root Cause
The vulnerability is due to improper input validation of user-supplied file paths, allowing traversal sequences (../) to access files outside the intended directory.
Attack Vector
Network-based exploitation with no authentication required, allowing remote attackers to access system files via crafted HTTP requests.
# Example exploitation code (sanitized)
GET /repository/path-traversal/../../../../etc/passwd HTTP/1.1
Host: vulnerable-host
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-4956
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual access logs with ../ patterns
- Unauthorized access to sensitive files (e.g., /etc/passwd)
- Unexpected errors or log entries in Nexus Repository logs
Detection Strategies
Utilize web server access logs to monitor for malicious activity patterns indicating path traversal attempts, particularly requests containing .. sequences.
Monitoring Recommendations
Enable and review verbose logging on the Nexus Repository to identify suspicious access patterns and unauthorized file accesses.
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-4956
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the security patch for Nexus Repository version 3.68.1 immediately
- Restrict network access to the Nexus Repository server to trusted IPs
- Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to block malicious input patterns
Patch Information
The vulnerability has been mitigated in Nexus Repository version 3.68.1 as per Sonatype's advisories.
Workarounds
Configure file permissions to restrict access to sensitive files and directories, reducing the potential impact of an exploitation.
# Configuration example
chmod -R 750 /opt/sonatype/nexus
setfacl -m u:httpd:r-x /opt/sonatype/nexus/conf
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
