The release of a proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit for a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Veeam Recovery Orchestrator (VRO) has heightened concerns about potential attacks. Tracked as CVE-2024-29855, the vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to log in to the VRO web UI with administrative privileges. Developed by security researcher Sina Kheirkhah, the exploit underscores the urgent need for system patching to mitigate the risk.
The exploit, showcased in a detailed post by Kheirkhah, highlights that the vulnerability is more straightforward to exploit than initially suggested by the vendor’s bulletin. Rated 9.0 on the CVSS v3.1 scale, the flaw impacts VRO versions 7.0.0.337 and 7.1.0.205 and older. It arises from the use of a hardcoded JSON Web Token (JWT) secret, enabling attackers to generate valid tokens for any user, including administrators.
Veeam’s security bulletin advises upgrading to patched versions 7.1.0.230 and 7.0.0.379 and outlines the conditions required to exploit the vulnerability. However, Kheirkhah’s write-up reveals that some of these requirements can be bypassed with relative ease, making the vulnerability more formidable. For instance, determining the role and finding a valid username can be achieved through techniques such as token spraying and examining SSL certificates for domain information.
Furthermore, Kheirkhah’s PoC script addresses the “active session” requirement by generating and testing JWT tokens across a range of timestamps. This approach increases the likelihood of successfully hijacking an active session. As the exploit for CVE-2024-29855 is now publicly available, organizations should prioritize applying security updates to protect against potential attacks.
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