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CVE-2024-13089NVD status: Deferred

Guardian: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command

CVE-2024-13089 is a high-severity improper neutralization of special elements used in an OS command vulnerability in Guardian from Nozomi Networks, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.2 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with administrator privileges, without any action from a user. The record lists version 24.6.0 as the first without the flaw, so updating Guardian to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 1.08% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 66% of scored CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update Guardian to 24.6.0 or a later version.
  2. Update CMC to 24.6.0 or a later version.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Nozomi NetworksGuardianbefore 24.6.024.6.0
Nozomi NetworksCMCbefore 24.6.024.6.0

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
HighAdministrator-level access is required first.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA (nozominetworks.com).

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 4.07.5HighCNA (nozominetworks.com)
CVSS 3.17.2HighCNA (nozominetworks.com)

Official description

An OS command injection vulnerability within the update functionality may allow an authenticated administrator to execute unauthorized arbitrary OS commands. Users with administrative privileges may upload update packages to upgrade the versions of Nozomi Networks Guardian and CMC. While these updates are signed and their signatures are validated prior to installation, an improper signature validation check has been identified. This issue could potentially enable users to execute commands remotely on the appliance, thereby impacting confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command

The product constructs all or part of an OS command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended OS command before it is sent to a downstream component.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • If at all possible, use library calls rather than external processes to recreate the desired functionality.
  • For any data that will be used to generate a command to be executed, keep as much of that data out of external control as possible. For example, in web applications, this may require storing the data locally in the session's state instead of sending it out to the client in a hidden form field.
  • For any security checks that are performed on the client side, ensure that these checks are duplicated on the server side, in order to avoid CWE-602. Attackers can bypass the client-side checks by modifying values after the checks have been performed, or by changing the client to remove the client-side checks entirely. Then, these modified values would be submitted to the server.

More Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command vulnerabilities (CWE-78)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in Guardian

All Guardian vulnerabilities

Recent Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command vulnerabilities

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