CVE-2024-8190
Ivanti Cloud Services Appliance OS Command Injection Vulnerability
Description
CVE-2024-8190 is a high-severity OS command injection vulnerability affecting Ivanti Cloud Services Appliance (CSA) version 4.6 Patch 518 and earlier. The flaw allows a remote authenticated attacker with administrative privileges to execute arbitrary operating system commands on the underlying server, leading to full remote code execution. With an EPSS score of 91.9% (99.7th percentile), this vulnerability is nearly certain to be exploited in the wild and has been added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog with a remediation deadline of October 4, 2024. Organizations running affected versions of Ivanti CSA should treat this as an urgent patching priority.
KEV Information
CVSS Score
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HOpen in CalculatorAffected Products
| Vendor | Product | Version |
|---|---|---|
| ivanti | cloud services appliance | 4.6 |
Multiple CVSS Assessments
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
References
- https://forums.ivanti.com/s/article/Security-Advisory-Ivanti-Cloud-Service-Appliance-CSA-CVE-2024-8190(Vendor Advisory)
- https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/alerts/2024/09/13/ivanti-releases-security-update-cloud-services-appliance(US Government Resource)
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2024-8190(US Government Resource)
Weakness Type
OS Command Injection
Although no formal CWE has been assigned to CVE-2024-8190, the vulnerability is classified as an OS command injection flaw. This class of weakness occurs when user-controlled input is incorporated into operating system commands without proper sanitization or validation, enabling an attacker to inject arbitrary commands that execute with the privileges of the application process. In the context of Ivanti CSA, an authenticated administrator can abuse this flaw to break out of the intended administrative interface and execute commands directly on the host operating system. OS command injection is one of the most dangerous vulnerability classes because it provides direct access to the underlying system, bypassing all application-layer security controls.
Learn more: CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command
Impact Analysis
The CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.2 (High) reflects a vulnerability that, while requiring elevated privileges, delivers devastating impact upon exploitation. Confidentiality, integrity, and availability are all fully compromised, meaning an attacker who successfully exploits this flaw can read sensitive configuration data and credentials, modify system files and configurations, and completely disrupt appliance operations. The network-based attack vector with low complexity means exploitation can be performed remotely without any special conditions, though the attacker must first obtain administrator-level credentials.
From a business perspective, the Ivanti Cloud Services Appliance is a critical infrastructure component that manages device provisioning and communication. A compromised CSA could serve as a pivot point for lateral movement across the entire managed device fleet. The EPSS score of 91.9% places this vulnerability in the 99.7th percentile, indicating near-certain exploitation activity. CISA has confirmed active exploitation by listing CVE-2024-8190 in the KEV catalog. While the ransomware association is currently listed as unknown, the ability to execute arbitrary commands makes this an ideal entry point for ransomware deployment.
Exploit Maturity
CVE-2024-8190 has been confirmed as actively exploited in the wild, earning its place in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog with a mandatory remediation deadline of September 2024 (extended to October 4, 2024 for federal agencies). The EPSS probability of 91.9% at the 99.7th percentile confirms that this vulnerability sits among the most actively targeted flaws currently tracked. CISA issued a dedicated security alert on September 13, 2024, underscoring the urgency of remediation.
The ransomware usage status is currently classified as "Unknown," but the nature of the vulnerability — full remote code execution on a network appliance — makes it an attractive target for ransomware operators and advanced persistent threat (APT) groups alike. Ivanti has published an official security advisory confirming the issue and recommending immediate upgrade. The combination of active exploitation, an extremely high EPSS score, and CISA's KEV listing makes this one of the highest-priority vulnerabilities to address in 2024.
Remediation
- Upgrade Ivanti CSA immediately — Migrate from CSA 4.6 to CSA 5.0 or later, as Ivanti has announced that version 4.6 has reached end-of-life and Patch 519 is the final patch for this branch. Consult the Ivanti security advisory for upgrade guidance.
- Restrict administrative access — Ensure that CSA management interfaces are not exposed to the public internet. Implement network segmentation and require VPN or jump-host access for all administrative functions to reduce the attack surface.
- Audit administrator accounts — Review all accounts with administrative privileges on the CSA. Enforce strong, unique passwords and enable multi-factor authentication where supported. Remove or disable any unnecessary admin accounts.
- Monitor for indicators of compromise — Examine CSA logs for signs of unauthorized command execution, unexpected outbound connections, or modifications to system files. Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions on adjacent systems to detect lateral movement.
- Apply defense-in-depth measures — Implement web application firewalls (WAFs) and intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) with signatures specific to OS command injection patterns. Enable audit logging for all administrative actions on the appliance.
Technical Details
The CVSS v3.1 vector for CVE-2024-8190 is CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, producing a base score of 7.2 (High). Attack Vector (AV:N) indicates the vulnerability is exploitable over the network without physical access. Attack Complexity (AC:L) means no special conditions or race conditions are needed. Privileges Required (PR:H) is the mitigating factor — the attacker must have administrator-level authentication before exploitation is possible. User Interaction (UI:N) confirms no victim action is required. Scope (S:U) indicates the impact is confined to the vulnerable component itself. Confidentiality (C:H), Integrity (I:H), and Availability (A:H) all reflect complete compromise of the affected system.
The underlying vulnerability is an OS command injection in the Ivanti CSA management interface. When an authenticated administrator submits certain input through the management console, the application incorporates that input into an operating system command without adequate sanitization. This allows an attacker to append or inject shell metacharacters and arbitrary commands that execute with the privileges of the CSA service process, which typically runs with elevated system privileges. While the requirement for administrative credentials limits the initial attack surface, credential theft through phishing, brute force, or credential reuse from other breaches makes this prerequisite achievable for motivated threat actors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2024-8190?
CVE-2024-8190 is an OS command injection vulnerability in Ivanti Cloud Services Appliance (CSA) version 4.6 Patch 518 and earlier. It allows an authenticated administrator to execute arbitrary operating system commands on the appliance, achieving full remote code execution. The vulnerability has been actively exploited in the wild and is listed in CISA's KEV catalog.
Who is affected by CVE-2024-8190?
Any organization running Ivanti CSA version 4.6 Patch 518 or earlier is affected. This includes enterprises and government agencies that use CSA for device management and provisioning. Since CSA 4.6 has reached end-of-life, Ivanti recommends migrating to CSA 5.0 rather than relying on further patches for the legacy version.
Does CVE-2024-8190 require authentication to exploit?
Yes, the attacker must have administrator-level credentials to exploit this vulnerability. However, the high EPSS score and confirmed active exploitation indicate that attackers are successfully obtaining administrative access through credential theft, phishing, or other means before leveraging this flaw for command execution.
How urgent is patching CVE-2024-8190?
Extremely urgent. CISA set a remediation deadline of October 4, 2024, and the EPSS score of 91.9% places it in the 99.7th percentile for exploitation likelihood. Organizations should prioritize immediate upgrade to CSA 5.0 and restrict network access to the management interface as an interim mitigation.
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