CVE-2024-7760: Aimstack Aim CSRF Vulnerability

CVE-2024-7760 Overview

A Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability has been identified in aimhubio/aim version 3.22.0, affecting the tracking server component. The vulnerability stems from overly permissive Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) settings that allow cross-origin requests from all origins. This misconfiguration enables attackers to perform CSRF attacks on all endpoints of the tracking server, which can be chained with other existing vulnerabilities to achieve remote code execution, denial of service, and arbitrary file read/write operations.

Critical Impact

This CSRF vulnerability can be exploited to chain with other vulnerabilities, potentially leading to remote code execution, denial of service, and arbitrary file read/write on affected aim tracking servers.

Affected Products

• aimstack aim version 3.22.0
• aimstack aim (Python package)
• aim tracking server component

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-03-20 - CVE-2024-7760 published to NVD
• 2025-07-21 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-7760

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability exists in the aim tracking server's CORS configuration, which has been implemented with overly permissive settings that accept cross-origin requests from any origin. CORS (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing) is a security mechanism designed to restrict cross-origin HTTP requests, but when misconfigured to allow all origins, it effectively disables this protection layer.

The tracking server in aim 3.22.0 fails to properly validate the origin of incoming requests, allowing malicious websites to make authenticated requests on behalf of users who have active sessions with the aim tracking server. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects all endpoints of the tracking server, exposing the entire API surface to CSRF attacks.

What makes this vulnerability especially critical is its potential for chaining with other existing vulnerabilities in the aim platform. An attacker could leverage this CSRF flaw as an entry point to trigger remote code execution, cause denial of service conditions, or perform arbitrary file read/write operations on the target system.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is the improper implementation of CORS headers in the aim tracking server. The server is configured to respond with permissive Access-Control-Allow-Origin headers that accept requests from any origin, combined with credentials being allowed in cross-origin requests. This configuration violates the security principle of least privilege and exposes the server to cross-origin attacks.

The lack of CSRF tokens or other anti-CSRF mechanisms in the tracking server endpoints compounds this issue, as there is no secondary layer of defense against forged requests.

Attack Vector

The attack vector involves an attacker crafting a malicious web page that, when visited by a victim with an active aim tracking server session, automatically sends authenticated requests to the tracking server on behalf of the victim. Since the CORS policy accepts all origins, the browser will allow the malicious site to read responses and interact with the tracking server API.

An attacker could host a malicious webpage containing JavaScript that targets aim tracking server endpoints. When a victim who is authenticated to the aim tracking server visits this malicious page, the attacker's script can perform actions such as modifying tracking data, accessing sensitive experiment information, or chaining with other vulnerabilities to execute arbitrary code on the server.

For technical details on the vulnerability mechanism, refer to the Huntr Bug Bounty Report.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-7760

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected cross-origin requests to aim tracking server endpoints from untrusted domains
• Anomalous API activity patterns on tracking server endpoints, particularly bulk operations or sensitive data access
• Server logs showing requests with suspicious Origin or Referer headers from unknown external sources
• Unauthorized modifications to tracking experiments or configurations

Detection Strategies

• Monitor HTTP request headers for cross-origin requests from untrusted or unexpected domains
• Implement logging and alerting for tracking server API access patterns that deviate from normal baseline behavior
• Review server access logs for requests originating from external referrers that should not have access
• Deploy web application firewalls (WAF) with rules to detect and block suspicious cross-origin request patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging on aim tracking server to capture Origin and Referer headers for all requests
• Set up alerts for tracking server endpoints being accessed from origins outside your organization's domain whitelist
• Monitor for any chained attack indicators such as unexpected file operations or process executions following tracking server requests
• Regularly audit tracking server access patterns and correlate with user session activity

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-7760

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict access to the aim tracking server to trusted networks only until a patch is applied
• Implement network-level access controls to limit which origins can reach the tracking server
• Review and audit recent tracking server activity for signs of exploitation
• Consider temporarily disabling the tracking server in production environments if it is not critical

Patch Information

Organizations using aimhubio/aim version 3.22.0 should monitor the aim project for security updates that address this CSRF vulnerability. Check the Huntr Bug Bounty Report for the latest information on remediation status and available patches.

Workarounds

• Configure a reverse proxy in front of the aim tracking server to implement strict CORS policies that only allow requests from trusted origins
• Implement network-level access controls using firewall rules to restrict tracking server access to known IP addresses or internal networks only
• Use VPN or SSH tunneling for remote access to the tracking server instead of exposing it directly
• Deploy authentication middleware that validates request origins before passing requests to the tracking server

# Example nginx reverse proxy configuration to restrict CORS
# Place in your nginx server block configuration
location /api/ {
    # Only allow requests from trusted origin
    if ($http_origin !~ '^https://(trusted-domain\.com|internal\.example\.org)$') {
        return 403;
    }
    
    add_header 'Access-Control-Allow-Origin' $http_origin always;
    add_header 'Access-Control-Allow-Credentials' 'true' always;
    add_header 'Access-Control-Allow-Methods' 'GET, POST, OPTIONS' always;
    
    proxy_pass http://aim-tracking-server:5000;
}