CVE-2024-6227: Aimstack Aim DOS Vulnerability

CVE-2024-6227 Overview

CVE-2024-6227 is a denial-of-service vulnerability in aimhubio/aim version 3.19.3, an open-source experiment tracking platform for machine learning workloads. Attackers can configure the remote tracking server to point at itself, causing the server to enter an infinite connection loop. The looping process consumes server resources and prevents the service from responding to legitimate client connections. The flaw maps to CWE-835, Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition. The issue was reported through the Huntr bug bounty program and is exploitable over the network without authentication.

Critical Impact
Unauthenticated network attackers can render the Aim tracking server unresponsive by triggering a self-referential connection loop, disrupting ML experiment tracking pipelines.

Affected Products

aimhubio/aim 3.19.3
Aimstack Aim remote tracking server component
Deployments exposing the Aim tracking endpoint over the network

Discovery Timeline

2024-07-08 - CVE-2024-6227 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-6227

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in the remote tracking server logic of aimhubio/aim 3.19.3. The server accepts a configuration value identifying an upstream tracking endpoint. The code does not validate whether the configured remote address resolves to the server itself. When an operator or attacker configures the remote endpoint to the local server, every outbound tracking call is routed back to the same process.

Each inbound connection triggers a new outbound connection to the same listener. The process consumes worker threads, sockets, and CPU cycles until the service stops responding to legitimate requests. The condition aligns with CWE-835, where a loop lacks a reachable exit condition.

The defect is a classic Infinite Loop denial-of-service issue. It does not expose data and does not allow code execution. The impact is limited to availability of the affected service.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing validation of the remote tracking server target. The server does not detect self-referential configuration, nor does it bound the depth or rate of forwarded tracking requests. There is no circuit breaker, recursion guard, or loopback detection in the connection path.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based. An attacker who can modify the remote tracking server configuration, through an exposed administrative interface or weak access control, sets the remote endpoint to the server's own address. Subsequent tracking activity, including attacker-supplied calls, triggers the loop. The server becomes unresponsive until restarted with corrected configuration.

No verified public exploit code is available. For technical details, see the Huntr Bounty Report.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-6227

Indicators of Compromise

Aim tracking server process showing sustained high CPU usage and rapidly growing open socket count to its own listening port.
Loopback or self-IP entries appearing in the Aim remote tracking server configuration.
Tracking server logs showing repeated outbound requests to the local server address with no upstream progress.
Client requests to the tracking server timing out or failing while the process remains running.

Detection Strategies

Inspect Aim configuration files and environment variables for remote tracking endpoints pointing to 127.0.0.1, localhost, or the host's own external IP.
Monitor network flow data for self-loop TCP sessions on the Aim listener port.
Alert on Aim server processes whose connection count to their own listening socket exceeds a baseline threshold.

Monitoring Recommendations

Track availability of the Aim tracking endpoint with synthetic health checks and alert on sustained failure.
Forward Aim server logs and host telemetry to a centralized analytics platform for correlation with CPU and socket metrics.
Review change history for the Aim remote tracking configuration and alert on modifications that introduce loopback targets.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-6227

Immediate Actions Required

Audit running Aim deployments and confirm the remote tracking server is not configured to point at the local host.
Restrict network access to the Aim tracking server so only trusted ML clients can reach the listener.
Restart any Aim server instance currently in a looping state and correct the offending configuration before bringing it back online.

Patch Information

No fixed version is identified in the NVD record at the time of publication. Operators should monitor the aimhubio/aim repository and the Huntr Bounty Report for patch availability and upgrade beyond 3.19.3 once a corrected release is published.

Workarounds

Enforce strict access control on the Aim tracking server configuration interface to prevent unauthorized changes.
Place the Aim tracking server behind an authenticated reverse proxy that blocks self-referential remote targets.
Run the Aim tracking server with resource limits, such as process CPU and file descriptor caps, to contain the impact of a loop condition.
Validate remote tracking server URLs in deployment automation and reject loopback or local-host addresses.

bash

# Configuration example: validate the configured remote tracking target before starting Aim
AIM_REMOTE="$(grep -E '^remote_tracking_url' /etc/aim/aim.conf | awk -F'=' '{print $2}' | tr -d ' ')"
case "$AIM_REMOTE" in
  *localhost*|*127.0.0.1*|*$(hostname -i)*)
    echo "Refusing to start: Aim remote tracking URL points at this host ($AIM_REMOTE)"
    exit 1
    ;;
esac