CVE-2024-42469: CometVisu Backend for openHAB affected by RCE through path traversal

Should you act?

Critical and remotely reachable

No known exploitation yet, but it is network-reachable without credentials. 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 1.2%, percentile 68: FIRST’s model estimates a 1.2% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 68% of all scored CVEs (moderate). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
• Remotely reachable with no login and no user interaction. If the vulnerable service is exposed to the internet, prioritize it.
• Only applies if your dependency tree includes org.openhab.ui.bundles:org.openhab.ui.cometvisu (Maven) <= 4.2.0, fixed in 4.2.1. Check your lockfile, including transitive dependencies.

What it is

openHAB, a provider of open-source home automation software, has add-ons including the visualization add-on CometVisu. Prior to version 4.2.1, CometVisu's file system endpoints don't require authentication and additionally the endpoint to update an existing file is susceptible to path traversal. This makes it possible for an attacker to overwrite existing files on the openHAB instance. If the overwritten file is a shell script that is executed at a later time, this vulnerability can allow remote code execution by an attacker. Users should upgrade to version 4.2.1 to receive a patch.

From the GitHub advisory

CometVisu's file system endpoints don't require authentication and additionally the endpoint to update an existing file is susceptible to path traversal. This makes it possible for an attacker to overwrite existing files on the openHAB instance. If the overwritten file is a shell script that is executed at a later time this vulnerability can allow remote code execution by an attacker.

This vulnerability was discovered with the help of CodeQL's Uncontrolled data used in path expression query.

Impact

This issue may lead up to Remote Code Execution (RCE).

Weakness type: CWE-22.

Product: org.openhab.ui.bundles:org.openhab.ui.cometvisu (Maven) · Assigned by: GitHub_M · Published: 2024-08-09

Affected and fixed versions

Severity scores

• Attack vector: network (remotely reachable)
• Attack complexity: low
• Attack requirements: none
• Privileges required: none (no login)
• User interaction: none

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 yes, technical impact total.
• FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 1.21% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 68.

Timeline

• 2024-08-09 — CVE record last updated
• 2024-08-09 — CVE record published by GitHub_M
• 2024-08-09 — GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-f729-58x4-gqgf published (critical)

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-f729-58x4-gqgf github.com
2. CVE.org record CVE-2024-42469 cve.org
3. NVD entry CVE-2024-42469 nvd.nist.gov

Other references from the CVE record and advisory

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

Critical Maven advisories · Today’s Security Digest