CVE-2024-11947 is a critical vulnerability identified in GFI Archiver version 15.6, specifically within its Core Service component that listens on TCP port 8017 by default. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-502, which pertains to deserialization of untrusted data. This flaw occurs because the Core Service does not properly validate or sanitize serialized data received from authenticated users, allowing attackers to send crafted serialized objects that, when deserialized, execute arbitrary code. The vulnerability requires the attacker to have valid authentication credentials but does not require any user interaction beyond that. Successful exploitation results in remote code execution with SYSTEM-level privileges, granting full control over the affected system. The CVSS v3.0 base score is 8.8, reflecting high impact across confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with low attack complexity and no user interaction needed. Although no public exploits have been reported yet, the vulnerability was tracked as ZDI-CAN-24029 and published on December 11, 2024. The lack of proper input validation in the deserialization process is a common and dangerous security flaw, often exploited to bypass security controls and escalate privileges. Given the critical nature of the Core Service in GFI Archiver, exploitation could lead to complete compromise of archival data and underlying systems.

The impact of CVE-2024-11947 is severe for organizations using GFI Archiver 15.6. An attacker with valid credentials can remotely execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM, potentially leading to full system compromise. This can result in unauthorized access to sensitive archived emails and documents, data theft, data manipulation, or destruction. The integrity and availability of archival services may be disrupted, causing operational downtime and loss of critical business records. Since the Core Service runs with high privileges, attackers can also pivot to other parts of the network, escalate privileges further, or deploy ransomware and persistent backdoors. The requirement for authentication limits exposure to some extent, but insider threats or compromised credentials can still enable exploitation. Organizations relying on GFI Archiver for compliance and data retention face regulatory and reputational risks if this vulnerability is exploited.

To mitigate CVE-2024-11947, organizations should immediately upgrade to a patched version of GFI Archiver once available. In the absence of a patch, restrict access to TCP port 8017 using network segmentation and firewall rules to limit exposure to trusted hosts only. Enforce strong authentication policies, including multi-factor authentication (MFA), to reduce the risk of credential compromise. Monitor authentication logs and network traffic for unusual activity targeting the Core Service. Disable or restrict unnecessary services and features within GFI Archiver to minimize attack surface. Implement application-layer filtering or intrusion detection systems capable of detecting malicious serialized payloads. Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing focused on deserialization vulnerabilities. Educate administrators about the risks of deserialization flaws and the importance of timely patching. Finally, maintain robust backup and incident response plans to recover quickly in case of compromise.