CVE-2024-10394 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-305 (Authentication Bypass by Assumed-Immutable Data) affecting The OpenAFS Foundation's OpenAFS Unix clients. OpenAFS uses Process Authentication Groups (PAGs) to manage and isolate user credentials for authentication purposes. The throttling mechanism is intended to limit the creation of PAGs to prevent abuse. However, this vulnerability allows a local user to bypass this throttling by creating a PAG with an existing ID number, effectively joining an existing PAG. This means the attacker can assume the identity and credentials of another process group, enabling credential theft and unauthorized access to resources protected by those credentials. The vulnerability requires local access and user interaction but no prior authentication or elevated privileges, making it relatively easy to exploit in environments where multiple users have local access. The CVSS 4.0 score of 8.4 reflects the high impact on confidentiality and integrity, with low attack complexity and no need for privileges. Affected versions include 1.0, 1.8.0, and 1.9.0 of OpenAFS. No patches or known exploits are currently available, but the risk is significant due to the potential for credential theft and lateral movement within networks using OpenAFS for distributed file storage and authentication.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-10394 is considerable, especially in sectors relying on OpenAFS for secure distributed file systems, such as academia, research institutions, and large enterprises. Credential theft via PAG hijacking can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, disruption of services, and potential lateral movement within internal networks. This undermines confidentiality and integrity of critical systems and data. The vulnerability could facilitate insider threats or malicious local users escalating their access without detection. Given the widespread use of OpenAFS in European research networks and universities, the risk of data breaches and intellectual property theft is elevated. Additionally, organizations with compliance obligations under GDPR must consider the potential data exposure risks and incident reporting requirements. The lack of available patches increases the urgency for proactive mitigation and monitoring.

1. Restrict local user access to systems running OpenAFS to trusted personnel only, minimizing the risk of exploitation by unprivileged users. 2. Implement strict monitoring and logging of PAG creation and usage activities to detect anomalous behavior indicative of PAG ID reuse or unauthorized access. 3. Employ host-based intrusion detection systems (HIDS) configured to alert on suspicious OpenAFS process activities. 4. Isolate critical OpenAFS servers and clients within segmented network zones to limit lateral movement opportunities. 5. Prepare for rapid deployment of patches or updates from The OpenAFS Foundation once released; maintain close communication with vendor advisories. 6. Conduct regular audits of user accounts and credential usage within OpenAFS environments to identify potential compromises. 7. Educate system administrators and users about the risks of local privilege misuse and enforce strong local access controls. 8. Consider alternative authentication mechanisms or additional layers of security around OpenAFS where feasible until a patch is available.