CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2024-51549NVD status: Analyzed

ASPECT-Enterprise: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2024-51549 is a critical-severity improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory vulnerability in ASPECT-Enterprise from ABB, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.4 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected ASPECT-Enterprise versions: 3.08.02 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 0.54% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Patch this week

Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.

What to do

  1. Update Aspect-ent-12 Firmware to 3.08.03 or a later version.
  2. Update Aspect-ent-2 Firmware to 3.08.03 or a later version.
  3. Update Aspect-ent-256 Firmware to 3.08.03 or a later version.
  4. Read the advisory on search.abb.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
  5. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
ABBASPECT-Enterprise3.08.02 and earlierNot stated
ABBNEXUS Series3.08.02 and earlierNot stated
ABBMATRIX Series3.08.02 and earlierNot stated
ABBAspect-ent-12 Firmwarebefore 3.08.033.08.03
ABBAspect-ent-2 Firmwarebefore 3.08.033.08.03
ABBAspect-ent-256 Firmwarebefore 3.08.033.08.03
ABBAspect-ent-96 Firmwarebefore 3.08.033.08.03
ABBNexus-2128 Firmwarebefore 3.08.033.08.03
ABBNexus-2128-a Firmwarebefore 3.08.033.08.03
ABBNexus-2128-f Firmwarebefore 3.08.033.08.03
ABBNexus-2128-g Firmwarebefore 3.08.033.08.03
ABBNexus-264 Firmwarebefore 3.08.033.08.03
ABBNexus-264-a Firmwarebefore 3.08.033.08.03
ABBNexus-264-f Firmwarebefore 3.08.033.08.03
ABBNexus-264-g Firmwarebefore 3.08.033.08.03
ABBNexus-3-2128 Firmwarebefore 3.08.033.08.03
ABBNexus-3-264 Firmwarebefore 3.08.033.08.03
ABBMatrix-11 Firmwarebefore 3.08.033.08.03
ABBMatrix-216 Firmwarebefore 3.08.033.08.03
ABBMatrix-232 Firmwarebefore 3.08.033.08.03
ABBMatrix-264 Firmwarebefore 3.08.033.08.03
ABBMatrix-296 Firmwarebefore 3.08.033.08.03

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
LowPerformance or availability is reduced.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 4.09.3CriticalCNA (ch.abb.com)
CVSS 3.110.0CriticalCNA (ch.abb.com)
CVSS 3.19.4CriticalNVD

Official description

Absolute File Traversal vulnerabilities allows access and modification of un-intended resources. Affected products: ABB ASPECT - Enterprise v3.08.02; NEXUS Series v3.08.02; MATRIX Series v3.08.02

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

The underlying weakness: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory

The product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • 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.
  • Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid.
  • Use an application firewall that can detect attacks against this weakness. It can be beneficial in cases in which the code cannot be fixed (because it is controlled by a third party), as an emergency prevention measure while more comprehensive software assurance measures are applied, or to provide defense in depth.

More Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory vulnerabilities (CWE-22)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in ASPECT-Enterprise

All ASPECT-Enterprise vulnerabilities

Recent Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory vulnerabilities

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