New Apache Traffic Server Flaws Allow Malformed Request Exploits

The Apache Software Foundation has disclosed several vulnerabilities affecting its Traffic Server software.

These vulnerabilities allow malicious actors to exploit malformed requests and access control list (ACL) issues, posing serious security risks to users.

The vulnerabilities, identified by CVE numbers CVE-2024-38311, CVE-2024-56195, CVE-2024-56196, and CVE-2024-56202, have been reported by various researchers and affect multiple versions of the Apache Traffic Server.

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Description of Vulnerabilities

1. CVE-2024-38311 (Request Smuggling via Pipelining After a Chunked Message Body): This vulnerability allows an attacker to perform request smuggling by exploiting how pipelined requests are handled after a chunked message body. This could lead to unauthorized access or manipulation of data.
2. CVE-2024-56195 (Intercept Plugins Not Access Controlled): Intercept plugins in Apache Traffic Server are not properly access-controlled, which means that unauthorized users might be able to execute these plugins, potentially compromising system security.
3. CVE-2024-56196 (ACL Not Fully Compatible with Older Versions): This vulnerability highlights an issue where ACL functionality is not fully compatible with older versions of the software. This could lead to inconsistent access controls across different versions, creating potential security holes.
4. CVE-2024-56202 (Expect Header Field Can Unreasonably Retain Resource): The Expect header field can cause resources to be held unnecessarily, potentially leading to resource exhaustion and denial-of-service attacks.

Affected Versions and Mitigation

The vulnerabilities affect Apache Traffic Server versions 9.0.0 through 9.2.8, as well as versions 10.0.0 to 10.0.3. Users are advised to upgrade their installations to mitigate these risks. Specifically:

• Users of ATS versions 9.x should upgrade to version 9.2.9 or later.
• Users of ATS versions 10.x should upgrade to version 10.0.4 or later.

These vulnerabilities underscore the importance of maintaining updated software to protect against emerging threats.

The Apache Software Foundation’s prompt disclosure and mitigation guidance offer users a clear path to securing their systems.

As the cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve, vigilance and proactive updates remain crucial for preventing exploitation by malicious actors.

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