GeoServer Exploit: How a Year-Old Bug Gave Hackers a Three-Week Vacation in a Federal Agency
The US cybersecurity agency CISA has identified a GeoServer vulnerability being exploited to compromise a federal agency. The bug, tracked as CVE-2024-36401, allowed attackers to drop web shells, escalate privileges, and remain undetected for weeks. It’s a reminder that sometimes the biggest threats aren’t exotic zero-days but rather the ones we overlook.
Hot Take:
Looks like the U.S. government needs to update their software just as often as they update their tax codes! While the rest of us are busy worrying about the next zero-day exploit, they’re getting smacked around with vulnerabilities old enough to vote in some states. Maybe it’s time they started patching vulnerabilities with the same enthusiasm they reserve for patching potholes!
Key Points:
- A GeoServer vulnerability, CVE-2024-36401, with a CVSS score of 9.8, was exploited to compromise a federal agency.
- Threat actors gained access to servers, uploaded web shells, and used techniques like brute force attacks and privilege escalation.
- Living-off-the-land (LOTL) techniques were employed to remain undetected for three weeks.
- The attack involved the use of China Chopper, a web shell often linked to China-based threat actors.
- The agency’s failure to patch and detect the breach promptly was a significant factor in the prolonged compromise.
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