ICS: Improper Privilege Management
CVE-2024-21888 is a high-severity improper privilege management vulnerability in ICS from Ivanti, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. Affected ICS versions: 9.1R18 and earlier; 22.6R2 and earlier. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 85.4% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is in the top 0.28% of all scored CVEs.
Exploitation in the next 30 days is more likely than not, according to EPSS.
What to do
- Update connect_secure to 10.0 or 23.0, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update policy_secure to 23.0 or 10.0, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Read the advisory on forums.ivanti.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ivanti | ICS | 9.1R18 and earlier; 22.6R2 and earlier | Not stated |
| Ivanti | IPS | 9.1R18 and earlier; 22.6R1 and earlier | Not stated |
| Ivanti | connect_secure | 9.0 up to, but not including, 10.0; 22.0 up to, but not including, 23.0 | 10.0, 23.0 |
| Ivanti | policy_secure | 22.0 up to, but not including, 23.0; 9.0 up to, but not including, 10.0 | 23.0, 10.0 |
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
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- 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:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.8 | High | NVD |
| CVSS 3.0 | 8.8 | High | CNA (hackerone.com) |
Official description
A privilege escalation vulnerability in web component of Ivanti Connect Secure (9.x, 22.x) and Ivanti Policy Secure (9.x, 22.x) allows a user to elevate privileges to that of an administrator.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Privilege Management
The product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Very carefully manage the setting, management, and handling of privileges. Explicitly manage trust zones in the software.
- Follow the principle of least privilege when assigning access rights to entities in a software system.
- Consider following the principle of separation of privilege. Require multiple conditions to be met before permitting access to a system resource.
More Improper Privilege Management vulnerabilities (CWE-269)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other vulnerabilities in ICS
- 8.3 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 8.2 High severity
Recent Improper Privilege Management vulnerabilities
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.6 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
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