N-central: Improper Authentication
CVE-2024-28200 is a critical-severity improper authentication vulnerability in N-central from N-able, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists version 2024.2 as the first without the flaw, so updating N-central to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 1.95% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 81% of scored CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Update N-central to 2024.2 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on documentation.n-able.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
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
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- 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:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 9.1 | Critical | CNA |
| CVSS 3.1 | 9.8 | Critical | NVD |
Official description
The N-central server is vulnerable to an authentication bypass of the user interface. This vulnerability is present in all deployments of N-central prior to 2024.2. This vulnerability was discovered through internal N-central source code review and N-able has not observed any exploitation in the wild.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Authentication
When an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Use an authentication framework or library such as the OWASP ESAPI Authentication feature.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
Other vulnerabilities in N-central
- 8.4 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.3 Critical severity
- 8.3 High severity
- 8.7 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
N-able N-central Static Code Injection Exploited
Recent Improper Authentication vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.6 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 7.2 High severity
VMware ESXi Authentication Bypass Exploited
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