Remediation/Mitigation Strategy for CVE-2024-12917 - Health4All File/Directory Access Vulnerability

This document outlines the remediation and mitigation strategy for CVE-2024-12917, a vulnerability affecting Agito Computer Health4All.

1. Vulnerability Description:

  • CVE ID: CVE-2024-12917
  • Description: The “Files or Directories Accessible to External Parties” vulnerability in Agito Computer Health4All allows attackers to access sensitive files and directories due to incorrectly configured access control security levels and authentication abuse.
  • Affected Product: Agito Computer Health4All versions prior to 10.01.2025.
  • Impact: Unauthorized access to files and directories, potentially leading to:
    • Data leakage of sensitive patient information or system configuration details.
    • System compromise through malicious file uploads or modification.
    • Denial of service by modifying critical system files.

2. Severity:

  • CVSS Score: 8.3 (High)
  • Vector: AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N (Based on the provided values, though the specific values for C, I, and A conflict. Assumed high confidentiality impact due to file access)
    • AV:N (Network): The vulnerability can be exploited over the network.
    • AC:L (Low): The attacker does not require any special conditions to exploit the vulnerability.
    • PR:N (None): No privileges are required to exploit the vulnerability.
    • UI:N (None): No user interaction is required.
    • S:U (Unchanged): The security scope is unchanged.
    • C:H (High): High impact to confidentiality (data leakage).
    • I:L (Low): Low impact to integrity.
    • A:N (None): No impact to availability.

3. Known Exploit (Based on Description):

  • Exploit Method: Exploiting incorrectly configured access control security levels and authentication abuse. This likely involves:
    • Direct URL Manipulation: Attempting to access files/directories by directly modifying URL parameters.
    • Authentication Bypass: Exploiting weaknesses in the authentication mechanism to gain unauthorized access.
    • Privilege Escalation: Leveraging insufficient access control to perform actions beyond the user’s intended permissions.

4. Remediation Strategy:

The primary goal is to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive files and directories within Health4All.

  • Immediate Actions (Within 24-48 hours):

    • Apply the Patch/Upgrade: The most critical step is to upgrade Health4All to version 10.01.2025 or later, which contains the fix for this vulnerability. Contact Agito Computer for the patch or upgrade procedure.
    • Network Segmentation: Isolate the Health4All system within a secured network segment with strict access controls to limit the potential blast radius in case of a successful exploit.
    • Web Application Firewall (WAF) Rules (If Applicable): Implement WAF rules to detect and block malicious requests attempting to access sensitive files/directories. Look for patterns indicative of directory traversal, path manipulation, and authentication bypass attempts.
    • Monitor for Suspicious Activity: Implement monitoring and logging to detect suspicious activity, such as:
      • Unusual file access patterns
      • Failed authentication attempts
      • Access attempts to restricted directories
      • Error codes related to access control.
    • Temporary Mitigation (If patch is not immediately available): If a patch is not available, consider temporarily disabling or restricting access to the vulnerable files/directories until the patch can be applied. This might involve temporarily disabling certain features within Health4All. However, carefully assess the impact of this mitigation.

  • Long-Term Actions (Within 1-2 Weeks):

    • Review Access Control Configuration: Thoroughly review and harden the access control configuration within Health4All. Ensure that only authorized users have access to sensitive files and directories.
    • Strengthen Authentication Mechanisms: Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) where possible to improve the security of user accounts. Enforce strong password policies and consider regularly rotating access keys.
    • Code Review (If Possible): If access to the application code is available (unlikely for a commercial application), conduct a security code review to identify and fix other potential access control vulnerabilities.
    • Penetration Testing: Conduct a penetration test of the Health4All system to identify any remaining vulnerabilities and validate the effectiveness of the implemented security measures.
    • Regular Security Audits: Establish a schedule for regular security audits and vulnerability assessments of the Health4All system and its supporting infrastructure.
    • Vendor Communication: Maintain regular communication with Agito Computer to stay informed about security updates and best practices.

5. Mitigation Specifics:

Based on the description, focus on the following mitigation techniques:

  • Input Validation: Implement robust input validation to prevent directory traversal and path manipulation attacks. Sanitize all user-supplied input before using it to construct file paths.
  • Authentication Hardening: Ensure that the authentication mechanism is secure and resistant to bypass attacks. Use strong password policies and multi-factor authentication (MFA) if possible.
  • Least Privilege Principle: Enforce the principle of least privilege, granting users only the minimum level of access required to perform their tasks.
  • Access Control Lists (ACLs): Properly configure ACLs on files and directories to restrict access to authorized users and groups.

6. Communication Plan:

  • Inform all stakeholders about the vulnerability and the remediation plan.
  • Provide regular updates on the progress of the remediation effort.
  • Clearly communicate any temporary mitigations that may impact user functionality.

7. Verification:

After implementing the remediation measures, verify their effectiveness by:

  • Conducting vulnerability scans.
  • Performing penetration testing.
  • Reviewing system logs for any suspicious activity.

Disclaimer:

This remediation/mitigation strategy is based on the limited information provided. A thorough assessment of the Health4All system is recommended to identify all potential vulnerabilities and tailor the security measures accordingly. Consult with security experts for further guidance. Always consult the vendor’s official documentation and recommendations for the most accurate and up-to-date information.