CVE-2024-6396: Aimstack Aim RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2024-6396 Overview

A critical path traversal vulnerability exists in the _backup_run function of aimhubio/aim version 3.19.3 that allows remote attackers to overwrite arbitrary files on the host server and exfiltrate sensitive data. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of the run_hash and repo.path parameters, which can be manipulated to create and write to arbitrary file paths on the target system.

Critical Impact

Remote attackers can achieve denial of service by overwriting critical system files, steal private data through exfiltration, and potentially execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems.

Affected Products

• Aimstack Aim version 3.19.3 (Python package)
• aimhubio/aim installations using the vulnerable _backup_run function

Discovery Timeline

• 2024-07-12 - CVE-2024-6396 published to NVD
• 2025-07-23 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-6396

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-29 (Path Traversal: '..\filename'), indicating that the application fails to properly neutralize path traversal sequences before using them in file operations. The _backup_run function in Aimstack Aim does not adequately validate or sanitize user-supplied input for the run_hash and repo.path parameters, allowing attackers to inject path traversal sequences that escape the intended directory structure.

When exploited, an attacker can manipulate these parameters to point to arbitrary locations in the file system. This enables two primary attack scenarios: writing malicious content to sensitive system files (leading to denial of service or code execution) and reading/exfiltrating arbitrary data from the server.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability lies in insufficient input validation within the _backup_run function. The function accepts run_hash and repo.path parameters and uses them to construct file paths without properly sanitizing path traversal characters such as ../ or ..\. This allows attackers to escape the intended backup directory and access or modify files anywhere on the file system where the application has permissions.

Attack Vector

This vulnerability is exploitable remotely over the network without requiring authentication or user interaction. An attacker can craft malicious requests to the Aim server that contain specially crafted run_hash or repo.path values with path traversal sequences.

The attack vector allows for:

1. File Overwrite: By manipulating the path parameters, attackers can write backup data to arbitrary file locations, potentially overwriting critical system files like /etc/passwd or application configuration files.

2. Data Exfiltration: The vulnerability can be leveraged to read sensitive files from the server by directing backup operations to include arbitrary files.

3. Remote Code Execution: By overwriting executable files, scripts, or configuration files that are subsequently executed, attackers may achieve code execution on the target system.

For detailed technical information about this vulnerability, refer to the Huntr Bug Bounty Listing.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-6396

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual file creation or modification in system directories outside the Aim repository path
• Backup operations targeting unexpected file paths containing ../ sequences
• Unauthorized access attempts to sensitive configuration or system files
• Anomalous network requests to the Aim server containing path traversal patterns

Detection Strategies

• Monitor file system operations for writes to directories outside the expected Aim repository structure
• Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block path traversal attempts in request parameters
• Review Aim server logs for requests containing suspicious run_hash or repo.path values with traversal sequences
• Deploy endpoint detection solutions to alert on unexpected file modifications by the Aim process

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for all backup operations in Aim installations
• Configure file integrity monitoring (FIM) on critical system directories and application configurations
• Set up network monitoring to detect unusual data exfiltration patterns from Aim servers
• Implement alerting for any file operations by the Aim service outside its designated directories

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-6396

Immediate Actions Required

• Assess your environment for deployments of Aimstack Aim version 3.19.3
• Restrict network access to Aim servers to trusted sources only
• Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential exploitation
• Review file system permissions to minimize the Aim service account's write access

Patch Information

Organizations running aimhubio/aim version 3.19.3 should monitor the Huntr Bug Bounty Listing and the official Aimstack repository for security updates addressing this vulnerability. Upgrade to a patched version as soon as one becomes available.

Workarounds

• Deploy a reverse proxy or web application firewall (WAF) to filter requests containing path traversal sequences
• Run the Aim service with minimal file system privileges using principle of least privilege
• Implement application-level input validation to reject run_hash and repo.path values containing ../ or absolute paths
• Consider running Aim in a containerized environment with restricted file system access to limit the impact of exploitation

# Example: Restrict Aim service to specific directories using systemd
# Create a systemd override file
sudo mkdir -p /etc/systemd/system/aim.service.d/
cat << 'EOF' | sudo tee /etc/systemd/system/aim.service.d/security.conf
[Service]
# Restrict write access to specific directories
ReadWritePaths=/opt/aim/data
ProtectSystem=strict
ProtectHome=read-only
NoNewPrivileges=true
EOF

# Reload systemd and restart the service
sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl restart aim