CVE-2024-23331 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE involves a vulnerability in the Vite front-end tooling framework for JavaScript, specifically related to the dev server option

server.fs.deny

. The vulnerability allows for bypassing restrictions when hosted on a case-insensitive filesystem, particularly affecting servers running on Windows.

Understanding CVE-2024-23331

This section will delve into the details of CVE-2024-23331, its impact, technical aspects, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2024-23331?

The vulnerability in Vite's dev server option

server.fs.deny

permits bypassing on case-insensitive filesystems by leveraging case-augmented versions of filenames. This issue is comparable to a previous CVE concern (CVE-2023-34092) but with a narrower impact limited to hosts operating on case-insensitive filesystems. The problem arises from

picomatch

using case-sensitive glob matching by default, while the file server does not differentiate, enabling a blacklist evasion through requesting raw filesystem paths with augmented casing.

The Impact of CVE-2024-23331

The impact of this vulnerability is significant, with a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (High severity). The confidentiality impact is rated as High, while the availability impact is assessed as None. The vulnerability does not require any special privileges for exploitation and has a low attack complexity, posing a serious threat to affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2024-23331

In this section, we will explore the technical aspects of CVE-2024-23331, including the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows for bypassing the

server.fs.deny

option in Vite's dev server on case-insensitive filesystems, leading to unauthorized access to sensitive files.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability impacts versions of Vite ranging from >=2.7.0 to < 2.9.17, >=3.0.0 to <3.2.8, >=4.0.0 to < 4.5.2, and >=5.0.0 to < 5.0.12.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting this vulnerability involves leveraging case-augmented filenames on case-insensitive filesystems to bypass the server's restriction mechanism and gain access to sensitive files.

Mitigation and Prevention

In response to CVE-2024-23331, it is crucial to take immediate steps, implement long-term security practices, and ensure timely patching and updates to mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are strongly advised to upgrade to Vite versions vite@5.0.12, vite@4.5.2, vite@3.2.8, or vite@2.9.17 to address the vulnerability. For users unable to upgrade immediately, restricting access to dev servers can help reduce the risk of exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

To enhance overall security posture, users should follow best practices such as maintaining up-to-date software, conducting regular security assessments, and staying informed about potential vulnerabilities within their ecosystem.

Patching and Updates

Regularly applying patches and updates from Vite is essential to ensure that known vulnerabilities, including CVE-2024-23331, are addressed promptly and effectively. Stay vigilant for security advisories and implement patches as soon as they are available to bolster defenses against potential threats.