CVE-2024-3738
📋 TL;DR
This critical vulnerability in cym1102 nginxWebUI allows remote attackers to bypass certificate validation through manipulation of the nginxPath parameter in the handlePath function. This could lead to remote code execution by exploiting improper certificate validation. All users running nginxWebUI versions up to 3.9.9 are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- cym1102 nginxWebUI
📦 What is this software?
Nginxwebui by Cym1102
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Remote code execution with administrative privileges, allowing complete system compromise, data theft, and lateral movement within the network.
Likely Case
Remote code execution leading to unauthorized access, data exfiltration, and potential deployment of malware or ransomware.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if proper network segmentation, least privilege, and certificate validation controls are in place, though vulnerability still exists.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploit details are publicly available in the disclosed PDF. Attack requires access to the admin interface but no authentication bypass is needed if admin credentials are known or default.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 3.10.0 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://github.com/cym1102/nginxWebUI/issues/138
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Backup current configuration. 2. Download and install nginxWebUI version 3.10.0 or newer from the official repository. 3. Restart the nginxWebUI service. 4. Verify the update was successful.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict Access to Admin Interface
linuxLimit network access to the nginxWebUI admin interface using firewall rules or network segmentation.
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport [nginxWebUI-port] -s [trusted-ip] -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport [nginxWebUI-port] -j DROP
Disable Vulnerable Endpoint
allTemporarily disable or block access to the /adminPage/conf/saveCmd endpoint if not required.
nginx -s reload (after modifying nginx config to block the path)
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict network access controls to limit who can reach the nginxWebUI admin interface.
- Monitor logs for unusual access patterns to the /adminPage/conf/saveCmd endpoint and set up alerts.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check the nginxWebUI version. If it's 3.9.9 or earlier, the system is vulnerable. Also verify if the /adminPage/conf/saveCmd endpoint is accessible.Check Version:
Check the web interface or configuration files for version information, or run: cat /path/to/nginxWebUI/version.txt (if available)Verify Fix Applied:
After updating, confirm the version is 3.10.0 or later and test that certificate validation is properly enforced for the nginxPath parameter.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual POST requests to /adminPage/conf/saveCmd with manipulated nginxPath parameters
- Failed certificate validation attempts in nginxWebUI logs
Network Indicators:
- Unexpected outbound connections from the nginxWebUI server
- Traffic to the admin interface from unauthorized IP addresses
SIEM Query:
source="nginxWebUI" AND (url="/adminPage/conf/saveCmd" AND method="POST")🔗 References
- https://github.com/cym1102/nginxWebUI/files/14818455/nginxwebui.rce.3.9.9.pdf
- https://github.com/cym1102/nginxWebUI/issues/138
- https://vuldb.com/?ctiid.260577
- https://vuldb.com/?id.260577
- https://github.com/cym1102/nginxWebUI/files/14818455/nginxwebui.rce.3.9.9.pdf
- https://github.com/cym1102/nginxWebUI/issues/138
- https://vuldb.com/?ctiid.260577
- https://vuldb.com/?id.260577
