Major Security Flaw Discovered in Apache HTTP Server Software
In a significant development for cybersecurity, Mark J. Cox, a founding member of the Apache Software Foundation, has alerted users to a critical vulnerability identified in the Apache HTTP Server software via a recent tweet. This software, which operates nearly 40 percent of the internet, has been flagged due to its susceptibility to exploitation.
The vulnerability, designated as CVE-2019-0211, was discovered by Charles Fol, a security engineer at Ambionics. It has since been addressed in the latest release, version 2.4.39. This update is designed to mitigate risks associated with earlier versions, specifically those ranging from 2.4.17 to 2.4.38. Fol’s contributions have underscored the urgency of immediate action, particularly in shared web hosting environments where less-privileged users may manipulate the software to gain unauthorized root access.
The advisory issued by Apache emphasizes that the flaw could allow code running in child processes, potentially including scripts executed by various interpreters, to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the parent process, which are typically root. System administrators are urged to prioritize upgrading their servers to the patched version to prevent potential exploitation.
While a Proof-of-Concept (PoC) exploit has not yet been released, Fol has outlined the steps an attacker might take to exploit the identified weakness. Gaining write access to a worker process, for example, could be a gateway to executing malicious functions. Given the nature of shared hosting, malicious actors may leverage this exploit against multiple websites, putting an entire server’s integrity at risk.
This incident extends beyond a single vulnerability. The update also addresses three low-severity issues and two other critical vulnerabilities. Notably, CVE-2019-0217 could permit an authenticated user to bypass configured access controls, while CVE-2019-0215 involves an access control bypass related to mod_ssl when using specific client authentication methods.
The ramifications of such vulnerabilities can be extensive, particularly in the context of prior significant security breaches that have led to rapid exploitation in the wild. Past incidents have demonstrated the potential for establishing initial access through vulnerabilities, followed by privilege escalation to achieve control over critical systems.
Organizations running their own servers, as well as those utilizing web hosting services, are strongly advised to take immediate action to upgrade their Apache HTTP instances. Cybersecurity risks are ever-evolving, and the urgency to address these vulnerabilities is paramount to safeguarding sensitive data and maintaining operational integrity.
In light of this incident, continued vigilance and timely updates are essential for business owners to protect against evolving threats in the cybersecurity landscape.