CVE-2024-0822 is an authentication bypass vulnerability identified in overt-engine version 4.5.0, specifically within the CreateUserSession command. This flaw allows attackers to create user accounts on the system without any authentication, effectively bypassing all normal access controls. The vulnerability arises from improper validation or logic errors in the session creation process, permitting unauthenticated remote attackers to invoke the CreateUserSession command and add new users. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 score of 7.5, indicating high severity. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), requires no privileges (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and impacts integrity (I:H) without affecting confidentiality or availability. Although no known exploits have been reported in the wild, the ease of exploitation and potential for unauthorized user creation pose significant risks. This vulnerability could allow attackers to gain persistent unauthorized access, escalate privileges, and potentially manipulate system operations or data. The flaw affects only version 4.5.0 of overt-engine, and no patches or mitigations have been officially published yet. The vulnerability was reserved and published in January 2024 by Red Hat's CVE assigner.

For European organizations, this vulnerability presents a critical risk to system integrity and security posture. Unauthorized user creation can lead to privilege escalation, unauthorized access to sensitive systems, and potential lateral movement within networks. Organizations relying on overt-engine 4.5.0 for user management or authentication services could face significant operational disruptions and data integrity issues. The lack of confidentiality impact reduces risk of data leakage but does not mitigate the threat of unauthorized control. Critical infrastructure, government agencies, and enterprises using overt-engine in Europe could be targeted to establish footholds or disrupt operations. The vulnerability's ease of exploitation and remote nature increase the likelihood of attacks, especially in environments with exposed overt-engine services. Without immediate mitigation, attackers could leverage this flaw to compromise internal systems, leading to reputational damage, regulatory penalties under GDPR, and financial losses.

1. Immediately identify and inventory all instances of overt-engine version 4.5.0 within your environment. 2. Restrict network access to overt-engine management interfaces using firewalls or network segmentation to limit exposure to trusted IPs only. 3. Implement strong monitoring and alerting for any unauthorized user creation or suspicious activity related to user sessions. 4. Employ multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all administrative interfaces to add an additional layer of security, even if the vulnerability is exploited. 5. If possible, disable or restrict the CreateUserSession command until a patch is available. 6. Engage with the overt-engine vendor or community to obtain patches or official mitigations as soon as they are released. 7. Conduct regular audits of user accounts and session logs to detect and respond to unauthorized access promptly. 8. Educate security teams about this vulnerability and ensure incident response plans include scenarios involving authentication bypasses. 9. Consider deploying Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) or Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) with custom rules to detect and block exploitation attempts targeting the CreateUserSession command.