CVE-2024-56131: Progress LoadMaster RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2024-56131 Overview

CVE-2024-56131 is an Improper Input Validation vulnerability affecting Progress LoadMaster and related products that allows authenticated users to perform OS Command Injection attacks. The vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of user-supplied input, enabling attackers with valid credentials and adjacent network access to execute arbitrary operating system commands on the underlying server.

This vulnerability affects multiple Progress Software products including LoadMaster load balancers, Multi-Tenant Hypervisor deployments, and ECS (Edge Computing Services) installations across a wide range of versions.

Critical Impact

Authenticated attackers on the adjacent network can leverage improper input validation to inject and execute arbitrary OS commands, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or lateral movement within the network infrastructure.

Affected Products

• Progress LoadMaster versions 7.2.55.0 to 7.2.60.1 (inclusive)
• Progress LoadMaster versions 7.2.49.0 to 7.2.54.12 (inclusive)
• Progress LoadMaster version 7.2.48.12 and all prior versions
• Progress Multi-Tenant Hypervisor version 7.1.35.12 and all prior versions
• Progress ECS all versions prior to and including 7.2.60.1

Discovery Timeline

• February 5, 2025 - CVE-2024-56131 published to NVD
• July 31, 2025 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-56131

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation), which occurs when software does not properly validate input that affects the control flow or data flow of a program. In the context of Progress LoadMaster, this manifests as an OS Command Injection vulnerability that can be exploited by authenticated users.

The attack requires the adversary to be on an adjacent network (not remotely exploitable over the internet) and possess high-level privileges within the LoadMaster management interface. Once these prerequisites are met, the attacker can craft malicious input that bypasses validation controls and is subsequently interpreted as operating system commands.

Load balancers like Progress LoadMaster are critical infrastructure components that handle network traffic distribution, SSL termination, and application delivery. Compromise of these systems can have cascading effects on the entire network infrastructure, potentially affecting all applications and services behind the load balancer.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2024-56131 lies in insufficient input validation within the LoadMaster management interface. When processing certain user inputs, the application fails to properly sanitize or validate data before passing it to system shell functions. This allows specially crafted input containing shell metacharacters or command sequences to be interpreted and executed by the underlying operating system.

The vulnerability specifically affects authenticated users with high privileges, suggesting the injection point exists within administrative functions that interact with the operating system for configuration or management tasks.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for CVE-2024-56131 requires adjacent network access, meaning the attacker must be on the same network segment as the vulnerable LoadMaster device or have network-level access to reach the management interface. Additionally, the attacker needs valid high-privilege credentials to authenticate to the management interface.

Once authenticated, the attacker identifies input fields or API endpoints that process user-supplied data and pass it to system commands. By injecting shell metacharacters such as semicolons (;), pipes (|), or command substitution sequences ($(command) or `command`), the attacker can append or inject additional commands that execute with the privileges of the LoadMaster application process.

Successful exploitation allows the attacker to execute arbitrary commands, potentially enabling them to read sensitive configuration data, modify system settings, establish persistence mechanisms, or pivot to other systems on the network.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-56131

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual process executions originating from LoadMaster management services or web server processes
• Unexpected outbound network connections from the LoadMaster device to external IP addresses
• Anomalous authentication patterns or access to administrative functions during non-business hours
• Shell command artifacts in web server logs or application logs containing metacharacters

Detection Strategies

• Monitor LoadMaster access logs for suspicious input patterns containing shell metacharacters (;, |, $(), backticks)
• Implement network segmentation monitoring to detect unauthorized access to LoadMaster management interfaces
• Deploy endpoint detection solutions on network appliances where supported to identify command injection attempts
• Review authentication logs for high-privilege account usage anomalies

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable comprehensive logging on LoadMaster devices and forward logs to a centralized SIEM for correlation
• Establish baseline behavior for LoadMaster management interface access and alert on deviations
• Monitor for process spawning from web service processes that indicate command execution
• Implement network traffic analysis for the management network segment to detect lateral movement attempts

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-56131

Immediate Actions Required

• Apply the security patches provided by Progress Software immediately to all affected LoadMaster, Multi-Tenant Hypervisor, and ECS installations
• Restrict network access to LoadMaster management interfaces to authorized administrators only using firewall rules or network segmentation
• Review and audit high-privilege accounts for unauthorized access or credential compromise
• Enable and monitor audit logging on all affected devices

Patch Information

Progress Software has released security patches addressing CVE-2024-56131 along with related vulnerabilities CVE-2024-56132, CVE-2024-56133, CVE-2024-56134, and CVE-2024-56135. Administrators should consult the Progress Security Advisory for specific patch versions and upgrade instructions.

For LoadMaster deployments, upgrade to versions newer than 7.2.60.1 for the 7.2.55.x-7.2.60.x branch, newer than 7.2.54.12 for the 7.2.49.x-7.2.54.x branch, or newer than 7.2.48.12 for earlier versions. Multi-Tenant Hypervisor should be upgraded beyond version 7.1.35.12, and ECS installations should be updated beyond 7.2.60.1.

Workarounds

• Implement strict network segmentation to isolate LoadMaster management interfaces from general network access
• Enforce multi-factor authentication for administrative access where supported
• Apply principle of least privilege to limit the number of users with high-privilege access to LoadMaster
• Consider deploying web application firewalls or intrusion prevention systems to filter malicious input patterns targeting the management interface

# Network segmentation example - restrict management interface access
# Example iptables rules to limit access to LoadMaster management port
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -s 10.0.0.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -j DROP

# Replace 10.0.0.0/24 with your authorized management network
# Replace port 443 with the actual management interface port if different