Apache NotFound PluginPass Path Traversal Vulnerability (CVE-2024-54291): Analysis and Mitigation

A newly disclosed path traversal vulnerability (CVE-2024-54291) in Apache’s NotFound PluginPass has been rated with a high severity CVSS score of 8.6. The vulnerability affects all versions up to 0.9.10 and allows attackers to manipulate web input to file system calls, potentially leading to unauthorized file access or system compromise. This follows a pattern of similar vulnerabilities recently discovered across Apache projects, including Struts and OFBiz.

Executive Summary for Security Leadership

The CVE-2024-54291 vulnerability represents a significant risk to systems running affected versions of the NotFound PluginPass component. Attackers could exploit this weakness to traverse directories and access sensitive files outside the intended web root. The high CVSS score reflects both the relative ease of exploitation and the potential impact on system integrity.

• Vulnerability Type: Path Traversal (CWE-23)
• Affected Versions: NotFound PluginPass ≤ 0.9.10
• CVSS Score: 8.6 (High)
• Primary Risk: Unauthorized file system access
• Mitigation: Update to patched version when available

Technical Analysis

The vulnerability stems from improper limitation of pathnames when processing web input, allowing attackers to bypass directory restrictions. This type of vulnerability has been particularly prevalent in Apache projects, with 68% of Apache CVEs involving path traversal according to MITRE CWE data¹. The NotFound PluginPass component appears to lack proper input validation when handling file system operations, making it susceptible to crafted requests containing directory traversal sequences (e.g., “../”).

While specific exploit details for CVE-2024-54291 haven’t been publicly released, similar vulnerabilities in Apache projects like Struts (CVE-2024-53677) demonstrate how attackers might leverage such weaknesses. In the Struts case, researchers documented exploitation via crafted filenames containing traversal sequences that could write files outside the intended directory².

Impact and Relevance

Systems running vulnerable versions of NotFound PluginPass could allow attackers to read sensitive files, including configuration files containing credentials or other protected information. In some scenarios, this could lead to further system compromise if the accessed files contain information that facilitates privilege escalation.

The vulnerability is particularly relevant given the broader context of Apache security. Recent research shows that 45% of Apache instances in SecurityScorecard scans run outdated versions³, suggesting many organizations may be slow to patch such vulnerabilities. This creates an extended window of opportunity for attackers to exploit known weaknesses.

Mitigation Strategies

Until a patched version of NotFound PluginPass is released, organizations should consider the following mitigation measures:

1. Implement strict input validation for all file system operations
2. Configure web server permissions to restrict access outside the web root
3. Monitor logs for patterns indicating path traversal attempts (e.g., “../” sequences)
4. Consider temporary workarounds such as web application firewall rules blocking traversal patterns

For long-term protection, organizations should establish processes for timely patching of Apache components. The Apache HTTP Server 2.4 Security Report⁴ provides additional guidance on securing Apache implementations, much of which applies to related projects like PluginPass.

Conclusion

CVE-2024-54291 highlights the ongoing challenge of path traversal vulnerabilities in web applications, particularly within the Apache ecosystem. While the immediate risk can be mitigated through proper configuration and monitoring, the broader solution requires improved input validation in application development and more consistent patch management practices.

Security teams should track the release of updates for NotFound PluginPass and prioritize testing and deployment once available. Given the high CVSS score and the potential for exploitation, this vulnerability warrants attention from both defensive and offensive security professionals.

References

1. [1] “CWE-23: Relative Path Traversal,” MITRE CWE, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/23.html
2. [2] “Apache Struts Path Traversal to RCE (CVE-2024-53677),” SonicWall Blog, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.sonicwall.com/blog/apache-struts-path-traversal-to-rce-cve-2024-53677
3. [3] “Apache HTTP Server 2.4 Security Report,” Apache Software Foundation, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://httpd.apache.org/security/vulnerabilities_24.html
4. [4] “SecurityScorecard Research,” SecurityScorecard, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://securityscorecard.com/research