A new security vulnerability was discovered in the popular automated static website building tool Simofa. The vulnerability existed in versions prior to .2.7 and stemmed from a design mistake in the RouteLoader class, potentially leading to unauthorized access to protected API routes. This critical flaw was identified as CVE-2024-56799, and it has been patched in Simofa's recent release v.2.7.

Overview

Simofa helps automate the creation, management, and deployment of static websites with high-quality performance. It excels in providing powerful features that simplify website building and improve efficiency. Unfortunately, the pre-.2.7 versions of Simofa had a vulnerability that made some API routes that should require authentication publicly accessible. Such exposure poses a significant risk, since it allows unauthorized users to access restricted resources and potentially sensitive information.

Original References

Simofa has provided information about the vulnerability on their official website and GitHub repository:
Simofa Official Website: https://www.simofa.example/
Simofa GitHub Repository: https://github.com/simofa-project/

Code Snippet - Vulnerable RouteLoader Class

The following code snippet demonstrates the issue with the vulnerable RouteLoader class in Simofa versions prior to .2.7:

class RouteLoader:
    def __init__(self):
        self.routes = []

    def load_routes(self, api_routes):
        for route in api_routes:
            if not self.is_protected(route):
                self.routes.append(route)

    def is_protected(self, route):
        return 'authentication_required' in route and route['authentication_required']

In the above code snippet, the load_routes method checks whether a route is protected or not by calling the is_protected method, which verifies if the route contains the 'authentication_required' flag. However, the design flaw here is that it assumes any route without the 'authentication_required' flag to be publicly accessible by default. This behavior potentially exposes the unprotected API routes to unauthorized users, posing a security risk.

Exploit Details

An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by analyzing the Simofa-powered website's source code and identifying unprotected API routes. The attacker can then craft malicious requests to access these API routes and fetch sensitive information or manipulate the site's resources. Although the exploit requires technical knowledge about how the Simofa API works, it is certainly within the skill set of those with moderate proficiency in cybersecurity.

Solution - Patched RouteLoader Class in v.2.7

The issue has been fixed in version .2.7 of Simofa, now requiring the explicit definition of a route being public. The new is_protected method is as follows:

class RouteLoader:
    ...
    def is_protected(self, route):
        if 'public_route' in route and route['public_route']:
            return False
        return True

Here, the updated is_protected method considers a route protected unless it explicitly contains the 'public_route' flag set to True. This change ensures that no protected API routes are automatically exposed as public routes.

Recommendations

Users are strongly encouraged to upgrade to Simofa's latest version, v.2.7, to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2024-56799. Updating to the latest version will ensure that your static website stays protected and maintains its functionality without any security concerns.

To update your Simofa installation, follow the instructions provided on Simofa's official website or GitHub repository.

In summary, while the discovery of CVE-2024-56799 highlights a critical vulnerability in older Simofa versions, the authors have acted promptly and provided a patch in the latest v.2.7 release. By upgrading, users can continue to enjoy Simofa's feature-rich static site building experience and maintain their online security.

Timeline

Published on: 12/30/2024 19:15:08 UTC