CVE-2022-24715 is a path traversal vulnerability identified in Icinga Web 2, an open-source monitoring web interface and framework widely used for IT infrastructure monitoring. The vulnerability arises due to improper limitation of pathname inputs (CWE-22), allowing authenticated users with configuration access to create SSH resource files in arbitrary directories outside the intended restricted directory. This flaw enables attackers to place malicious files in unintended locations, potentially leading to the execution of arbitrary code on the underlying system. The vulnerability affects versions of Icinga Web 2 prior to 2.8.6 and versions from 2.9.0 up to but not including 2.9.6. The issue has been addressed in versions 2.8.6, 2.9.6, and 2.10. Exploitation requires authenticated access to the configuration interface, which limits the attack surface to users with elevated privileges. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild. The vulnerability impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of monitored systems by enabling unauthorized code execution, which could lead to system compromise or disruption of monitoring services. The root cause is insufficient validation and restriction of file paths when creating SSH resource files, allowing directory traversal sequences to escape the intended directory boundaries. Mitigation involves upgrading to fixed versions or restricting configuration access to trusted administrators only.

For European organizations, the exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to significant operational disruptions, especially in sectors relying heavily on IT infrastructure monitoring such as finance, telecommunications, energy, and government services. Unauthorized code execution could allow attackers to manipulate monitoring data, disable alerts, or gain further footholds within the network, undermining incident detection and response capabilities. This could result in delayed detection of other attacks, data breaches, or service outages. Given the critical role of monitoring tools like Icinga Web 2 in maintaining system health and security, exploitation could have cascading effects on business continuity and regulatory compliance, particularly under GDPR and other data protection frameworks. The requirement for authenticated access somewhat limits the risk to insider threats or attackers who have already compromised lower-level credentials, but the potential damage remains substantial if exploited.

1. Upgrade Icinga Web 2 installations to versions 2.8.6, 2.9.6, or 2.10 where the vulnerability is patched. 2. If immediate upgrade is not feasible, strictly limit access to the Icinga Web 2 configuration interface to a minimal set of trusted administrators using network segmentation, strong authentication mechanisms (e.g., multi-factor authentication), and role-based access controls. 3. Implement monitoring and alerting for unusual file creation activities within directories used by Icinga Web 2, focusing on SSH resource files and unexpected path traversal patterns. 4. Conduct regular audits of user permissions and access logs to detect any unauthorized configuration changes. 5. Employ application-layer firewalls or web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block path traversal attempts targeting the configuration interface. 6. Harden the underlying operating system by restricting execution permissions in directories accessible by Icinga Web 2 and applying the principle of least privilege to the Icinga Web 2 service account. 7. Educate administrators on secure configuration management practices to prevent inadvertent exposure of privileged interfaces.