Security Digest · Vulnerability record
CVE-2024-38002: Liferay Portal and Liferay DXP Workflow Component Does Not Check User Permissions
The workflow component in Liferay Portal 7.3.2 through 7.4.3.111, and Liferay DXP 2023.Q4.0 through 2023.Q4.5, 2023.Q3.1 through 2023.Q3.8, 7.4 GA through update 92 and 7.3 GA through update 36 does not properly check user permissions before updating a workflow definition, which allows remote authenticated users to…
CVSS 9.0 Critical EPSS 0.6% · p50
Should you act?
Critical, preconditions apply
Severe if exploited, but exploitation needs conditions that may not apply to you. This signal is computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS data; it is not an editorial verdict.
- No confirmed exploitation. It is not in CISA’s KEV catalog and CISA’s SSVC assessment records no known exploitation. That can change quickly after a public write-up; re-check if you are affected.
- EPSS 0.6%, percentile 50: FIRST’s model estimates a 0.6% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 50% of all scored CVEs (moderate). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
- Needs an account (low (any account)). Exposure depends on who can log in.
- Only applies if your dependency tree includes
com.liferay.portal:release.portal.bom(Maven) >= 7.3.2-ga3, < 7.4.3.112-ga112, fixed in 7.4.3.112-ga112;com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom(Maven) >= 2023.Q4.0, < 2023.Q4.6, fixed in 2023.Q4.6;com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom(Maven) >= 2023.Q3.1, < 2023.Q3.9, fixed in 2023.Q3.9;com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom(Maven) >= 7.3-ga, < 7.3.10.u36, fixed in 7.3.10.u36. Check your lockfile, including transitive dependencies.
What it is
The workflow component in Liferay Portal 7.3.2 through 7.4.3.111, and Liferay DXP 2023.Q4.0 through 2023.Q4.5, 2023.Q3.1 through 2023.Q3.8, 7.4 GA through update 92 and 7.3 GA through update 36 does not properly check user permissions before updating a workflow definition, which allows remote authenticated users to modify workflow definitions and execute arbitrary code (RCE) via the headless API.
From the GitHub advisory
The workflow component in Liferay Portal 7.3.2 through 7.4.3.111, and Liferay DXP 2023.Q4.0 through 2023.Q4.5, 2023.Q3.1 through 2023.Q3.8, 7.4 GA through update 92 and 7.3 GA through update 36 does not properly check user permissions before updating a workflow definition, which allows remote authenticated users to modify workflow definitions and execute arbitrary code (RCE) via the headless API.
Weakness type: CWE-862, CWE-863.
Product: com.liferay.portal:release.portal.bom (Maven) · Assigned by: Liferay · Published: 2024-10-22
Affected and fixed versions
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable | First fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maven | com.liferay.portal:release.portal.bom | >= 7.3.2-ga3, < 7.4.3.112-ga112 | 7.4.3.112-ga112 |
| Maven | com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom | >= 2023.Q4.0, < 2023.Q4.6 | 2023.Q4.6 |
| Maven | com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom | >= 2023.Q3.1, < 2023.Q3.9 | 2023.Q3.9 |
| Maven | com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom | >= 7.3-ga, < 7.3.10.u36 | 7.3.10.u36 |
| Maven | com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom | >= 7.4-ga, < 7.4.13.u92 | 7.4.13.u92 |
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions (per CVE record) |
|---|---|---|
| Liferay | Portal | 7.3.2 <= 7.3.7, 7.4.0 <= 7.4.3.111 |
| Liferay | DXP | 7.3.10 <= 7.3.10-u36, 7.4.13 <= 7.4.13-u92, 2023.Q3.1 <= 2023.Q3.8, 2023.Q4.0 <= 2023.Q4.5 |
Severity scores
| Scored by | CVSS | Score | Vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liferay | 3.1 | 9 Critical | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| GitHub | 3.1 | 9.0 | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H |
- Attack vector: network (remotely reachable)
- Attack complexity: low
- Privileges required: low (any account)
- User interaction: required (a user must click/open something)
- Scope: changed (can affect other components)
CVSS measures how bad a flaw is if exploited, not how likely exploitation is. Read it next to the exploitation data below.
Exploitation and urgency
- CISA KEV: not listed (no confirmed in-the-wild exploitation known to CISA).
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation none, automatable no, technical impact total.
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 0.65% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 50.
Timeline
- — CVE record published by Liferay
- — GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-3mfq-fp2f-vwqh published (critical)
- — CVE record last updated
Sources and references
Original sources first. Version and fix details should always be confirmed against the vendor or project advisory.
Vulnerability records
- GitHub Advisory GHSA-3mfq-fp2f-vwqh github.com
- CVE.org record CVE-2024-38002 cve.org
- NVD entry CVE-2024-38002 nvd.nist.gov
Other references from the CVE record and advisory
- liferay.dev liferay.dev