CVE-2024-38529: Admidio Vulnerable to RCE via Arbitrary File Upload in Message Attachment

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.

• Not in CISA KEV, but CISA’s SSVC assessment records a public proof-of-concept, so attack code exists.
• EPSS 1.2%, percentile 69: FIRST’s model estimates a 1.2% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 69% 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 admidio/admidio (Composer (PHP)) < 4.3.10, fixed in 4.3.10. Check your lockfile, including transitive dependencies.

What it is

Admidio is a free, open source user management system for websites of organizations and groups. In Admidio before version 4.3.10, there is a Remote Code Execution Vulnerability in the Message module of the Admidio Application, where it is possible to upload a PHP file in the attachment. The uploaded file can be accessed publicly through the URL {admidiobaseurl}/admmyfiles/messagesattachments/{filename}. The vulnerability is caused due to the lack of file extension verification, allowing malicious files to be uploaded to the server and public availability of the uploaded file. This vulnerability is fixed in 4.3.10.

From the GitHub advisory

Description: Remote Code Execution Vulnerability has been identified in the Message module of the Admidio Application, where it is possible to upload a PHP file in the attachment. The uploaded file can be accessed publicly through the URL {admidiobaseurl}/admmyfiles/messagesattachments/{filename}.

The vulnerability is caused due to the lack of file extension verification, allowing malicious files to be uploaded to the server and public availability of the uploaded file.

An attacker can upload a PHP web shell that executes OS commands on the server, compromising the application server.

Note: I am using the docker-compose.yaml file from https://github.com/Admidio/admidio/blob/master/README-Docker.md#docker-compose-usage official documentation.

Impact: An attacker can exploit this flaw to upload a PHP web shell, which can be used to execute arbitrary commands on the server. This can lead to a complete compromise of the application server, allowing the attacker to:

Weakness type: CWE-434.

Product: admidio/admidio (Composer (PHP)) · Assigned by: GitHub_M · Published: 2024-07-29

Affected and fixed versions

Severity scores

• Attack vector: network (remotely reachable)
• Attack complexity: low
• Attack requirements: none
• Privileges required: low (any account)
• User interaction: active

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 poc, automatable no, technical impact total.
• FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 1.24% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 69.

Timeline

• 2024-07-29 — CVE record published by GitHub_M
• 2024-07-29 — GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-g872-jwwr-vggm published (critical)
• 2024-08-02 — 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

1. GitHub Advisory GHSA-g872-jwwr-vggm github.com
2. CVE.org record CVE-2024-38529 cve.org
3. NVD entry CVE-2024-38529 nvd.nist.gov

Other references from the CVE record and advisory

1. github.com github.com
2. github.com github.com

Critical Composer (PHP) advisories · Today’s Security Digest