CVE-2024-7293: Telerik Reporting Auth Bypass Flaw

CVE-2024-7293 Overview

CVE-2024-7293 affects Progress Telerik Report Server versions prior to 2024 Q3 (10.2.24.806). The vulnerability allows attackers to conduct password brute forcing attacks due to weak password requirements [CWE-521]. Progress Telerik Report Server is a centralized reporting platform used by enterprises to manage and deliver business reports. The weak password policy enables adversaries to guess credentials through automated attempts. Successful exploitation grants unauthorized access to report management functions, sensitive business data, and administrative controls. The flaw was disclosed in October 2024 with a patch available in the 2024 Q3 release.

Critical Impact

Attackers can compromise Telerik Report Server accounts through credential brute forcing, gaining access to sensitive reports and administrative functions.

Affected Products

• Progress Telerik Report Server versions prior to 2024 Q3 (10.2.24.806)
• Progress Telerik Reporting (all instances using the affected Report Server)
• Self-hosted Telerik Report Server deployments

Discovery Timeline

• 2024-10-09 - CVE-2024-7293 published to the National Vulnerability Database
• 2024-10-15 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-7293

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in the authentication subsystem of Progress Telerik Report Server. The application enforces insufficient password complexity rules, allowing users to set short or predictable passwords. This weak policy enables attackers to perform brute force or dictionary attacks against user accounts.

The attack requires network access to the Report Server authentication endpoint. User interaction is required for the attack chain, typically through the authentication flow. Successful exploitation results in high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the application.

The weakness is classified under CWE-521: Weak Password Requirements. Such flaws bypass perimeter controls without exploiting a memory or logic bug. Attackers automate login attempts using tools such as Hydra or custom scripts targeting the Report Server login endpoint.

Root Cause

The root cause is the absence of strong password policy enforcement in Telerik Report Server. The application accepts passwords that do not meet modern complexity, length, or entropy standards. This permits the use of trivially guessable credentials across user and administrator accounts.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based and requires no prior privileges. An attacker enumerates valid usernames and submits automated authentication requests against the Report Server login interface. With weak passwords accepted, the search space for guessing credentials is significantly reduced. Once authenticated, the attacker inherits the privileges of the compromised account, including potential access to administrative reporting functions.

No verified public proof-of-concept code is available for this vulnerability. Refer to the Telerik Knowledge Base CVE-2024-7293 for vendor guidance.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-7293

Indicators of Compromise

• Multiple failed authentication attempts against the Telerik Report Server login endpoint from a single source IP or distributed sources
• Successful logins following bursts of failed attempts, indicating possible credential guessing success
• Authentication events occurring outside normal business hours or from unusual geolocations
• New session creation for privileged accounts without corresponding legitimate user activity

Detection Strategies

• Monitor authentication logs for high-volume failed login patterns targeting the Report Server
• Configure alerting thresholds on consecutive failed authentication attempts per account and per source IP
• Correlate Report Server authentication events with broader identity telemetry to detect credential stuffing campaigns
• Inspect web server access logs for rapid POST requests to authentication endpoints

Monitoring Recommendations

• Forward Telerik Report Server logs to a centralized SIEM for continuous review
• Track account lockout events and password reset frequency as secondary signals of brute force activity
• Baseline normal login volumes per account to detect statistical anomalies
• Review administrative report access patterns for unauthorized data retrieval after successful logins

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-7293

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade Progress Telerik Report Server to version 2024 Q3 (10.2.24.806) or later without delay
• Force a password reset for all Report Server accounts after applying the patch
• Enable account lockout policies to limit consecutive failed authentication attempts
• Implement multi-factor authentication where supported by the deployment environment

Patch Information

Progress released a fix in Telerik Report Server 2024 Q3 (10.2.24.806) that enforces stronger password requirements. Administrators should review the Telerik Knowledge Base CVE-2024-7293 advisory for upgrade procedures and verify successful installation of the patched build.

Workarounds

• Restrict network access to the Report Server authentication endpoint using firewall rules or VPN-only access
• Place the Report Server behind a reverse proxy or web application firewall configured with rate limiting on login requests
• Manually enforce strong password standards through administrative policies until the patch is applied
• Monitor and audit existing accounts for weak passwords and require replacement with complex credentials

# Example reverse proxy rate limiting for login endpoint (nginx)
limit_req_zone $binary_remote_addr zone=login_zone:10m rate=5r/m;

server {
    location /Token {
        limit_req zone=login_zone burst=5 nodelay;
        proxy_pass http://telerik_report_server;
    }
}