CVE-2022-40924 is a high-severity vulnerability identified in the Zoo Management System version 1.0. The vulnerability is an arbitrary file upload flaw located in the picture upload functionality of the "save_animal" file within the "Animals" module of the system's backend management interface. This type of vulnerability, classified under CWE-434 (Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type), allows an authenticated user with high privileges to upload malicious files without proper validation or restrictions. Given the CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.2, the vulnerability is remotely exploitable (AV:N) with low attack complexity (AC:L), but requires high privileges (PR:H) and no user interaction (UI:N). The impact is significant across confidentiality, integrity, and availability (all rated high), indicating that an attacker could execute arbitrary code, manipulate or exfiltrate sensitive data, or disrupt system operations. Although no public exploits are currently known in the wild, the lack of patches or vendor information increases the risk for organizations still running this software. The vulnerability's presence in a backend management system suggests that it could be leveraged to gain persistent access or pivot within an internal network, especially if the system is exposed or accessible to multiple users. The absence of vendor or product details limits the scope of direct mitigation guidance, but the technical nature of the flaw points to insufficient input validation and file type verification controls in the upload mechanism.

For European organizations using the Zoo Management System v1.0, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk. The arbitrary file upload can lead to remote code execution, enabling attackers to compromise the confidentiality of sensitive animal or operational data, alter or delete records, and potentially disrupt zoo management operations. This could result in operational downtime, reputational damage, and regulatory compliance issues, especially under GDPR if personal data is involved. Since the vulnerability requires high privileges, insider threats or compromised administrator accounts could be exploited to launch attacks. Moreover, if the system is connected to broader IT infrastructure, attackers might use this foothold to move laterally, escalating the impact. The lack of known exploits currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, as attackers often develop exploits post-disclosure. European organizations with zoological or wildlife management responsibilities, research institutions, or related public sector entities could be particularly affected if they rely on this system or similar vulnerable software.

Organizations should immediately audit their use of the Zoo Management System v1.0 or any similar software to identify exposure. Given the absence of vendor patches, mitigation should focus on restricting access to the backend management system to trusted administrators only, ideally through network segmentation and VPNs. Implement strict access controls and multi-factor authentication to reduce the risk of privilege abuse. Monitor file upload points for anomalous activity and enforce server-side validation to restrict allowed file types and sizes. Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block malicious upload attempts. Regularly review logs for suspicious behavior related to file uploads. If possible, replace or upgrade the vulnerable system with a patched or more secure alternative. Additionally, conduct security awareness training for administrators to recognize and prevent misuse of privileged accounts. Finally, prepare incident response plans to quickly contain and remediate any exploitation attempts.