CVE-2024-6786: MQTT Path Traversal Vulnerability
CVE-2024-6786 is a vulnerability that affects MQTT implementations and allows attackers to read arbitrary files on the system by crafting malicious MQTT messages with relative path traversal sequences. This could lead to the disclosure of sensitive information such as configuration files, JWT signing secrets, and other confidential data.
Impact and Affected Products
The vulnerability has been identified in several MQTT-enabled products, including:
- Moxa MXview One up to version 1.3
- Apache IoT MQTT
When exploited, CVE-2024-6786 could allow an attacker to gain unauthorized access to sensitive files and data on the affected systems.
Exploitation Example
Here's an example of how an attacker could exploit CVE-2024-6786:
1. The attacker crafts an MQTT message with a relative path traversal sequence, such as:
```
../../../etc/passwd
```
2. The attacker publishes the malicious message to a vulnerable MQTT broker or device.
3. The vulnerable MQTT implementation processes the message and attempts to read the file specified in the path traversal sequence.
4. If the path traversal is successful, the attacker can retrieve the contents of the `/etc/passwd` file, which may contain sensitive information like user accounts and hashed passwords.
Mitigating the Vulnerability
To mitigate the impact of CVE-2024-6786, users and administrators should:
1. Update affected MQTT implementations to versions that include patches for CVE-2024-6786 as soon as possible[6].
2. Restrict access to MQTT brokers and devices to authorized users and devices only.
3. Monitor MQTT traffic for any suspicious activity or unauthorized access attempts.
4. Implement proper input validation and sanitization in MQTT applications to prevent path traversal attacks.
Conclusion
CVE-2024-6786 is a serious vulnerability that could lead to the disclosure of sensitive information by exploiting path traversal weaknesses in MQTT implementations. Users and administrators should take immediate action to mitigate the risk by updating affected systems, restricting access, and implementing proper security measures to protect their MQTT-enabled devices and applications.