CVE-2024-10306 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting mod_proxy_cluster version 1.3.17. The root cause lies in the improper use of the <Directory> directive instead of the <Location> directive in the configuration. The <Directory> directive does not effectively restrict IP or host access as intended by the 'Require ip IP_ADDRESS' directive, allowing unauthorized hosts with network access to send MCMP (Mod Cluster Management Protocol) requests. These requests can manipulate the cluster configuration by adding, removing, or updating nodes responsible for load balancing. Although the affected host is not meant to be publicly accessible and should be isolated from general network traffic, if an attacker gains access to this host or the network segment, they can exploit this flaw to disrupt or manipulate load balancing behavior. This can lead to unauthorized changes in the cluster topology, potentially degrading service performance or availability. The vulnerability requires low attack complexity and only limited privileges (PR:L), with no user interaction needed. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.4, reflecting a medium impact primarily on confidentiality and integrity, with no direct availability impact. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches or vendor project details are provided in the data, indicating the need for administrators to verify updates or mitigations from mod_proxy_cluster maintainers or related distributions.

For European organizations, especially those using mod_proxy_cluster 1.3.17 in their infrastructure, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized manipulation of load balancing configurations. This can lead to degraded application performance, potential service interruptions, or exposure of internal network topology information. Organizations relying on mod_proxy_cluster for critical web services or internal application delivery may face increased operational risk. Since the vulnerability requires network access to the host running mod_proxy_cluster, the impact is heightened if network segmentation or access controls are weak. European enterprises with complex clustered environments or those operating in regulated sectors (finance, healthcare, government) could face compliance and operational challenges if this vulnerability is exploited. Additionally, the potential for unauthorized configuration changes could be leveraged as a stepping stone for further lateral movement or targeted attacks within the network.

1. Immediately review and update mod_proxy_cluster configurations to replace <Directory> directives with <Location> directives where IP-based access restrictions are required. 2. Ensure that the host running mod_proxy_cluster is strictly isolated from public networks and accessible only from trusted management or internal network segments. 3. Implement strict network segmentation and firewall rules to limit access to the mod_proxy_cluster host, allowing only authorized IP addresses. 4. Monitor network traffic for unusual MCMP requests or unexpected configuration changes in the cluster. 5. Regularly check for and apply patches or updates from the mod_proxy_cluster maintainers or the relevant Linux distribution vendors. 6. Conduct internal audits of cluster configurations and access controls to verify compliance with security best practices. 7. Employ intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) tuned to detect anomalous MCMP traffic patterns. 8. Maintain robust logging and alerting on configuration changes to enable rapid detection and response to potential exploitation attempts.