CVE-2017-5244 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies
Learn about CVE-2017-5244, a Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerability in Metasploit < 4.14.0. Find out the impact, affected systems, exploitation details, and mitigation steps.
CVE-2017-5244 was published on June 15, 2017, by Rapid7. It involves a vulnerability in Metasploit versions prior to 4.14.0 that allowed attackers to stop ongoing tasks by tricking authenticated users into executing JavaScript.
Understanding CVE-2017-5244
This CVE addresses a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in Metasploit, affecting various editions of the software.
What is CVE-2017-5244?
The vulnerability allowed unauthorized users to stop Metasploit tasks by exploiting improper route permissions, potentially disrupting ongoing operations.
The Impact of CVE-2017-5244
The vulnerability could have enabled attackers to halt critical tasks within Metasploit, leading to service disruption and potential security breaches.
Technical Details of CVE-2017-5244
This section provides detailed technical insights into the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The issue stemmed from routes that permitted GET requests to stop Metasploit tasks, contrary to the intended behavior of only allowing POST requests for such actions.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: Metasploit (Pro, Express, and Community editions)
- Vendor: Rapid7
- Vulnerable Version: < 4.14.0 (Update 2017061301)
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers could exploit the vulnerability by tricking authenticated users into executing JavaScript, allowing them to stop ongoing Metasploit tasks.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting systems from CVE-2017-5244 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update Metasploit to version 4.14.0 (Update 2017061301) or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
- Educate users on the importance of not executing untrusted scripts or commands.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Implement CSRF protection mechanisms to prevent similar attacks in the future.
- Regularly monitor and audit Metasploit usage for any suspicious activities.
Patching and Updates
- Rapid7 has released a fix in Metasploit 4.14.0 (Update 2017061301) to address the vulnerability.