Description
A critical vulnerability has been identified in the path traversal mechanism of Interinfo’s DreamMaker. This vulnerability allows unauthenticated remote attackers to upload arbitrary files to any directory on the system, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution through the upload of webshells.
Affected Product(s)
- Interinfo DreamMaker
Technical Details
The vulnerability resides in the file upload mechanism of Interinfo’s DreamMaker, which lacks appropriate validations and restrictions. By exploiting a path traversal flaw, an attacker can manipulate the file path to upload harmful files or webshells to a location on the server where they can be executed.
Interinfo’s DreamMaker, a popular content management system, processes file uploads in a way that fails to properly restrict the type and destination of the uploaded files. An adversary can exploit this by using specially crafted file names containing relative path sequences (like `../`). These sequences allow the uploaded files to traverse the directory tree and be placed in any location on the server disk. Due to improper file type restrictions, the system can save potentially dangerous files without any filtering.
When an attacker uploads a webshell—a script written in languages commonly processed by servers, such as PHP—they gain the ability to execute arbitrary commands on the server. This forms a critical security threat as it can lead to the complete compromise of the affected system. The adversary can then leverage the malware to accomplish any number of malicious activities, including database manipulation, sensitive information exfiltration, or even deploying ransomware.
The reference links provide extensive insight and verification directly from authorized sources. According to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) and Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) database, CVE-2024-11979 is rated with a severity score of 9.8, denoting its critical nature. This high score reflects the critical impact and the potential for wide exploitation due to the ease of execution and severe consequences.
Interinfo, the developer of DreamMaker, has acknowledged the vulnerability (identified as CWE-434: Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type), which implies improper handling of file upload and path traversal vulnerabilities as the core weakness. This makes DreamMaker particularly susceptible to unauthorized file upload attacks that could be leveraged by attackers to run arbitrary code with system privileges. Exploitations of vulnerabilities such as CVE-2024-11979 can be catastrophic, providing attackers with capabilities to completely control an affected server. There are confirmed details and write-ups available in the published advisories from the Taiwan Computer Emergency Response Team (TWCERT), which provide comprehensive technical elucidation and evidences of exploitation in operational environments.
DreamMaker versions prior to the patch release are susceptible to this flaw. Users are strongly advised to refer to the vendor’s updates and advisories to mitigate the risks. The vendor has indeed released updates and patches that address this specific vulnerability, securing the file upload mechanism by enforcing stringent validations and sanitizations.
Weakness
This vulnerability is identified with the weakness CWE-434: Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type. It denotes a failure in the software to check the type of files being uploaded, allowing attackers to upload and execute harmful files within the target system.
Impact Assessment
If this vulnerability is exploited, an attacker could gain unauthorized access to the server, leading to arbitrary code execution. This could allow the attacker to manipulate the system, access sensitive data, or deploy additional malicious activities, such as installing ransomware or further exploiting the network for lateral movements.
Active Exploitation
We have not observed specific activity from known adversary groups exploiting this vulnerability yet. However, the nature of the vulnerability makes it highly susceptible to exploitation, and it is highly advised to take precautionary measures immediately.
Ransomware Association
As of now, there haven’t been any specific ransomware attacks linked directly to this vulnerability. However, the ease of arbitrary code execution via this vulnerability does pave potential ways for ransomware deployment, such as dropping the ransomware payload onto the server and executing it remotely.
Mitigation and Resolution
We have released a patch that addresses this vulnerability. Please update to the latest version of DreamMaker immediately. The patch introduces proper file type checks, input sanitization, and resolves the path traversal issues to prevent unauthorized file uploads.
Recommendations
- Apply the latest patch released for DreamMaker immediately.
- Ensure that your system and all its components are updated to the most recent, secure versions.
- Regularly audit your system’s security configurations and file system permissions.
- Implement input validation to sanitize user inputs against path traversal sequences.
- Enable logging and monitoring for all file upload activities to detect and respond to suspicious activities.
- Use security tools and extend defensive mechanisms such as Web Application Firewalls to restrict harmful traffic and upload attempts.
- Educate users and administrators about secure file handling and the implications of unauthorized uploads.
References
- CVE MITRE Details
- National Vulnerability Database
- Taiwan Computer Emergency Response Team Research 1
- Taiwan Computer Emergency Response Team Research 2