CVE-2024-37182
📋 TL;DR
Mattermost Desktop App versions up to 5.7.0 fail to properly prompt users for permission when opening external URLs, allowing attackers to force victims to execute arbitrary programs via custom URI schemes. This affects all users of vulnerable Mattermost Desktop App versions who click on malicious links.
💻 Affected Systems
- Mattermost Desktop App
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Remote code execution leading to full system compromise, data theft, or ransomware deployment.
Likely Case
Attackers trick users into clicking malicious links that execute unwanted programs, potentially leading to malware installation or credential theft.
If Mitigated
Users are prompted for permission before external URLs open, preventing unauthorized program execution.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires social engineering to trick users into clicking malicious links. No authentication needed for the vulnerability itself.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 5.7.1 and later
Vendor Advisory: https://mattermost.com/security-updates
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Open Mattermost Desktop App. 2. Go to Help > Check for Updates. 3. Install version 5.7.1 or later. 4. Restart the application.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable automatic URL handling
allConfigure system to not automatically handle custom URI schemes from Mattermost
Use web browser version
allTemporarily use Mattermost via web browser instead of desktop app
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict URL filtering in network security controls
- Educate users about phishing risks and not clicking untrusted links
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Mattermost Desktop App version in Help > About. If version is 5.7.0 or earlier, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
Not applicable - check via GUI in Help > About menuVerify Fix Applied:
Verify version is 5.7.1 or later in Help > About. Test by clicking a custom URI scheme link - you should see a permission prompt.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unexpected process executions from URI handlers
- Multiple failed permission prompts for external URLs
Network Indicators:
- Unusual outbound connections after clicking Mattermost links
- Traffic to suspicious domains from custom URI scheme launches
SIEM Query:
Process creation where parent process contains 'mattermost' AND command line contains URI scheme patterns