CVE-2022-24758 is a vulnerability identified in the Jupyter Notebook web-based interactive computing environment, specifically affecting versions prior to 6.4.10. The issue arises from the insertion of sensitive information, such as authentication cookies and HTTP header values, into server log files whenever a 5xx server error occurs. These logs are accessible without requiring root privileges, meaning that any unauthorized user with access to the server logs can potentially extract sensitive authentication tokens. This exposure allows attackers to impersonate legitimate users and gain unauthorized access to the Jupyter Notebook server environment. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-532, which pertains to the improper handling of sensitive information in logs. The root cause is that the Jupyter Notebook server, by default, logs full request headers including authentication cookies during error events, without sanitization or redaction. Although a patch addressing this vulnerability was introduced in version 6.4.10, versions 6.4.x prior to this release remain vulnerable. No known workarounds exist, and there are no reports of active exploitation in the wild at this time. The vulnerability primarily impacts confidentiality by exposing sensitive authentication data, but it also indirectly threatens integrity and availability by enabling unauthorized access to the server environment. Exploitation requires access to the server logs, which may be possible for users with limited privileges or through other means of log access. User interaction is not required for exploitation once log access is obtained, and the scope of affected systems includes any deployment of vulnerable Jupyter Notebook versions, especially in multi-user or shared environments where log access is less restricted.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be significant, particularly in sectors relying heavily on data science, research, and collaborative computing environments where Jupyter Notebook is widely used. Unauthorized access to Jupyter servers could lead to exposure of sensitive research data, intellectual property, or personally identifiable information (PII), potentially violating GDPR and other data protection regulations. The breach of authentication tokens could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code, manipulate data, or disrupt services, impacting operational integrity and availability. Organizations in academia, finance, healthcare, and government sectors are especially at risk due to the sensitive nature of the data processed in Jupyter environments. Furthermore, since logs are often stored on shared or networked storage, the risk of lateral movement within an organization's infrastructure increases. The vulnerability also poses a risk to cloud-hosted Jupyter services, which are increasingly popular in European enterprises, potentially amplifying the attack surface. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as threat actors may develop exploits targeting this vulnerability.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should prioritize upgrading all Jupyter Notebook instances to version 6.4.10 or later, where the issue is patched. Since no workarounds exist, patching is the primary defense. Additionally, organizations should restrict access to server log files by enforcing strict file permissions and limiting log access to trusted administrators only. Implementing centralized logging with access controls and monitoring for unusual access patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider configuring Jupyter Notebook to run with minimal privileges and isolate notebook servers within segmented network zones to reduce lateral movement risks. Regularly auditing server logs for sensitive information and applying log sanitization or redaction techniques can further reduce exposure. For cloud deployments, leveraging managed Jupyter services with built-in security controls or applying strict IAM policies to control log access is recommended. Finally, educating users and administrators about the risks of exposing authentication tokens and the importance of timely patching will enhance overall security posture.