CVE-2022-24740 is an authentication vulnerability affecting Volto, the ReactJS-based frontend for the Plone Content Management System (CMS). Specifically, this flaw exists in Volto versions from 14.0.0-alpha.5 up to but not including 15.0.0-alpha.0. The root cause is the use of an outdated version of the `react-cookie` library, which under conditions of high server load can lead to an authentication cookie being replaced with that of another user. This cookie replacement effectively allows an attacker to hijack another user's session and gain unauthorized access to their account and privileges. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-287 (Improper Authentication), indicating a failure to properly verify user identity. Although no proof-of-concept exploit currently exists and no known exploits have been observed in the wild, the issue is plausible and could be exploited if conditions align. The fix has been incorporated starting with Volto 15.0.0-alpha.0. As an interim mitigation, users can manually upgrade the `react-cookie` package to version 4.1.1 and override all Volto components that depend on this library to prevent the cookie replacement issue. This vulnerability primarily impacts the confidentiality and integrity of user sessions within Plone CMS deployments using the affected Volto versions, potentially allowing attackers to impersonate other users and perform unauthorized actions within the CMS environment.

For European organizations utilizing Plone CMS with the Volto frontend in the affected versions, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive content and user data managed within the CMS. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to assume the identity of legitimate users, including administrators, thereby gaining unauthorized access to restricted content, modifying or deleting data, and potentially disrupting business operations. Given that Plone is often used by government agencies, educational institutions, and enterprises for content management, the compromise of user sessions could lead to data breaches, defacement of public-facing websites, or unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information. The vulnerability's exploitation requires high server load conditions, which may limit its occurrence but does not eliminate risk, especially in high-traffic environments. The lack of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate threat but does not preclude future attacks. Overall, the vulnerability could undermine trust in affected organizations' digital services and lead to regulatory compliance issues under European data protection laws such as GDPR if personal data is exposed.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should prioritize upgrading Volto to version 15.0.0-alpha.0 or later, where the issue is fully resolved. If immediate upgrade is not feasible, a practical workaround involves manually updating the `react-cookie` library to version 4.1.1 and overriding all Volto components that utilize this library to ensure the cookie handling flaw is addressed. Organizations should also monitor server load and implement load balancing or resource scaling to avoid high-load scenarios that trigger the vulnerability. Additionally, enforcing multi-factor authentication (MFA) on Plone CMS user accounts can reduce the impact of session hijacking by requiring additional verification beyond cookies. Regularly auditing user sessions and logs for unusual activity can help detect potential exploitation attempts early. Finally, organizations should ensure timely application of security patches and maintain an inventory of affected software versions to facilitate rapid response.