CVE-2024-12747 is a race condition vulnerability identified in the widely used file synchronization tool rsync. The flaw occurs during rsync's handling of symbolic links (symlinks). By default, rsync skips symbolic links to avoid unintended traversal. However, this vulnerability arises because an attacker can replace a regular file with a symbolic link at a precise moment during rsync's operation. This timing-based race condition allows the attacker to bypass the default behavior and cause rsync to traverse symbolic links unexpectedly. The consequence of this traversal depends on the privileges under which the rsync process is running. If rsync operates with elevated privileges or access to sensitive files, the attacker could leverage this flaw to leak sensitive information. This leakage could potentially lead to privilege escalation if the attacker gains access to files or data that enable further compromise. The vulnerability is classified as a concurrency issue due to improper synchronization when accessing shared resources (files). The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.6, indicating a medium severity level. The vector indicates that the attack requires local access (AV:L), high attack complexity (AC:H), low privileges (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), and results in a scope change (S:C) with high confidentiality impact (C:H), but no integrity or availability impact (I:N/A:N). No known exploits are reported in the wild as of the publication date. The vulnerability affects rsync versions prior to the patch, though specific affected versions are not detailed in the provided data. The flaw is significant because rsync is commonly used for backup, synchronization, and file transfer tasks across many environments, including enterprise and cloud infrastructures.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-12747 can be substantial depending on their use of rsync in their IT environments. Rsync is frequently employed for backup operations, data replication, and system synchronization. If rsync is running with elevated privileges or on sensitive data repositories, exploitation of this race condition could lead to unauthorized disclosure of confidential information. This could include sensitive customer data, intellectual property, or internal configuration files. The confidentiality breach could facilitate further attacks, including privilege escalation and lateral movement within networks. Given the medium CVSS score and the requirement for local access and precise timing, the threat is more relevant to organizations with multi-user systems or those exposing rsync services to less trusted users or automated processes. In sectors such as finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure within Europe, where data protection regulations like GDPR impose strict confidentiality requirements, such a vulnerability could lead to regulatory penalties and reputational damage. Additionally, the scope change in the CVSS vector indicates that the vulnerability could affect resources beyond the initially compromised component, increasing the risk of broader system compromise.

To mitigate CVE-2024-12747 effectively, European organizations should: 1) Apply patches and updates from rsync maintainers as soon as they become available to address the race condition. 2) Restrict rsync execution privileges by running the process with the least privilege necessary, avoiding root or administrative accounts unless absolutely required. 3) Implement strict file system permissions and access controls to prevent unauthorized users from replacing files with symbolic links during rsync operations. 4) Monitor and audit file system changes, especially in directories involved in synchronization tasks, to detect suspicious symbolic link creation or replacement attempts. 5) Where possible, isolate rsync operations in controlled environments or containers to limit the impact of potential exploitation. 6) Consider using alternative synchronization tools or configurations that do not follow symbolic links or that have built-in protections against race conditions. 7) Educate system administrators about the risks of race conditions and the importance of timing in file operations to improve operational security practices.