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The vulnerability stems from the API Server erroneously binding to multiple network interfaces, including external ones, when it should ideally be restricted to localhost. This misconfiguration exposes the API to the network. An unauthenticated, remote attacker can then directly interact with the exposed API endpoints. By sending a high volume of specific API requests, the attacker can trigger excessive memory allocation, leading to memory starvation and a denial of service (DoS) condition. Alternatively, by leveraging exposed file upload functionalities within the API, the attacker can upload arbitrary files to the server. This allows for writing files to any folder the process has write access to, potentially leading to remote code execution if a web shell is uploaded or system files are overwritten. The issue exists because there is no proper authentication check and no restriction on the network interfaces the API server listens on. The attack is simple to execute as it only requires network access to the vulnerable port and the ability to send HTTP requests. The impact is severe, ranging from complete service unavailability to full system compromise.
dailycve form:
Platform: Skill Scanner
Version: 1.0.1 and earlier
Vulnerability : API Misconfiguration
Severity: Critical
date: 26 May 2024
Prediction: Patch within 30 days
What Undercode Say:
Analytics:
Check for exposed API server on port (example port 8080) nmap -p 8080 --script=http- <target-ip> Use curl to test for unauthenticated access to API endpoints curl -X GET http://<target-ip>:<port>/api/status -v curl -X POST http://<target-ip>:<port>/api/upload -F "[email protected]" -v Simulate a DoS memory consumption by looping requests for i in {1..1000}; do curl -X GET http://<target-ip>:<port>/api/heavy-operation & done
Exploit:
- Scan for open ports commonly used by API servers.
- Enumerate API endpoints by fuzzing common paths (e.g.,
/api,/v1,/upload,/admin). - Send a continuous stream of requests to a resource-intensive API call to cause memory starvation.
- Use a simple HTTP POST request to the file upload endpoint to write a malicious file (e.g., a PHP web shell) to the web root.
Protection from this CVE:
Immediately update to Skill Scanner version 1.0.2 or later.
If immediate patching is not possible, implement a firewall rule to restrict access to the API server port only from trusted IP addresses.
Disable the API Server if it is not required for business operations.
Bind the API server service to localhost (127.0.0.1) only, preventing external network access.
Impact:
Successful exploitation leads to a complete Denial of Service, rendering the Skill Scanner service unavailable. More critically, arbitrary file upload can lead to Remote Code Execution, allowing the attacker to gain full control of the server, access sensitive data, and pivot to other internal systems.
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Sources:
Reported By: github.com
Extra Source Hub:
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