Overview
CVE-2024-58278 identifies a critical vulnerability affecting perl2exe versions up to and including V30.10C. This security flaw allows a local, authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code on a compromised system. The vulnerability stems from the ability to control the 0th argument of packed executables, enabling attackers to bypass security restrictions and gain unauthorized access by running other executables.
Technical Details
The core of CVE-2024-58278 lies in the way perl2exe handles the first argument (argv[0]) passed to the compiled executable. By manipulating this argument, an attacker can trick the executable into running a different, potentially malicious program. This bypasses intended security checks or restrictions within the originally compiled perl2exe application. The attacker effectively abuses a trust relationship or insufficient input validation within the perl2exe runtime environment.
CVSS Analysis
Currently, the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) score for CVE-2024-58278 is not available (N/A). Similarly, the severity rating is also listed as N/A. However, considering the potential for arbitrary code execution, it’s reasonable to anticipate a high CVSS score if a comprehensive assessment were performed, likely falling into the ‘Critical’ or ‘High’ severity range. A thorough CVSS evaluation should consider the attack vector (local), attack complexity (potentially low), privileges required (low/authenticated), user interaction (none), scope (changed), confidentiality impact (high), integrity impact (high), and availability impact (high).
Possible Impact
The exploitation of CVE-2024-58278 can have severe consequences, including:
- Complete System Compromise: Attackers can execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the user running the perl2exe application, potentially leading to full system control.
- Data Breach: Sensitive information stored on the system could be accessed and exfiltrated.
- Malware Installation: The vulnerability can be used to install malware, such as ransomware or keyloggers.
- Privilege Escalation: An attacker with limited privileges could potentially escalate to root or administrator level.
- Denial of Service (DoS): While not the primary impact, the attacker could potentially crash the system or disrupt services.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
To mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2024-58278, the following steps are recommended:
- Upgrade perl2exe: Check the vendor’s website ( https://www.indigostar.com/ ) for available updates or patches. Applying the latest version of perl2exe, if a fix exists, is the most effective solution.
- Apply Workarounds (If Available): In the absence of a direct patch, look for official workarounds or configuration changes suggested by the vendor to reduce the attack surface.
- Restrict Access: Limit access to perl2exe applications and the systems where they are run to authorized users only.
- Input Validation: If possible, implement stricter input validation in any scripts or applications that utilize perl2exe to prevent malicious manipulation of arguments.
- Monitor System Activity: Implement robust monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect suspicious activity that might indicate an attempted exploit.
As of the latest information, upgrading to the latest version offered on the IndigoStar website ( https://www.indigostar.com/ ) is advised, although the effectiveness in fully mitigating the vulnerability needs verification from the vendor or security advisories. Download location: https://www.indigostar.com/download/p2x-30.10-Linux-x64-5.30.1.tar.gz
References
- CVE: CVE-2024-58278
- Exploit-DB: https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/51825
- Vendor Website: https://www.indigostar.com/
- Download Link: https://www.indigostar.com/download/p2x-30.10-Linux-x64-5.30.1.tar.gz
- VulnCheck Advisory: https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/indigostar-software-perl2exe-v3010c-arbitrary-code-execution
