CVE-2024-13158 is a vulnerability identified in Ivanti Endpoint Manager, a widely used endpoint management solution. The root cause is an untrusted search path issue (CWE-426), where the software does not properly restrict the directories it searches for resources or executables. This flaw allows a remote attacker who already has administrative privileges on the system to manipulate the search path and execute arbitrary code remotely. The vulnerability affects versions of Ivanti Endpoint Manager prior to the 2024 January-2025 and 2022 SU6 January-2025 Security Updates. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), requires low attack complexity (AC:L), but does require high privileges (PR:H) and no user interaction (UI:N). The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H), meaning an attacker can fully compromise the affected system. Although no exploits have been reported in the wild yet, the nature of the vulnerability makes it a significant risk for organizations that have Ivanti Endpoint Manager deployed, especially those with multiple administrators or complex endpoint environments. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-426 (Untrusted Search Path) and also tagged with CWE-22 (Path Traversal), indicating potential directory traversal issues related to the search path. The lack of patch links in the provided data suggests that organizations should verify and apply the latest security updates from Ivanti promptly. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows remote code execution without user interaction, leveraging existing admin privileges to escalate control.

The impact of CVE-2024-13158 is substantial for organizations using Ivanti Endpoint Manager. Successful exploitation enables an attacker with administrative credentials to execute arbitrary code remotely, potentially leading to full system compromise. This can result in unauthorized access to sensitive data, disruption of endpoint management operations, and the deployment of further malware or ransomware. Given Ivanti Endpoint Manager's role in managing and securing endpoints across an enterprise, compromise could cascade to multiple systems, undermining overall network security. The vulnerability affects confidentiality, integrity, and availability, making it a critical risk for organizations that rely on Ivanti for endpoint control. Enterprises with large-scale deployments, managed service providers, and organizations in regulated industries face heightened risk due to the potential for data breaches and operational disruption. The requirement for admin privileges limits the attack surface but also highlights the importance of strict access controls. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not diminish the urgency of remediation, as threat actors may develop exploits rapidly once the vulnerability is public.

To mitigate CVE-2024-13158, organizations should immediately apply the 2024 January-2025 and 2022 SU6 January-2025 Security Updates released by Ivanti, which address the untrusted search path vulnerability. In addition to patching, organizations should audit and restrict administrative privileges to the minimum necessary, employing the principle of least privilege to reduce the risk of exploitation. Implementing robust endpoint protection and monitoring for unusual administrative activity can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and limiting remote administrative access to trusted networks or VPNs further reduce exposure. Organizations should also review Ivanti Endpoint Manager configurations to ensure no insecure search paths or environment variables can be manipulated by non-administrative users. Regularly updating and hardening the underlying operating systems and applying security best practices for privilege management will complement these efforts. Finally, maintaining an incident response plan that includes scenarios involving endpoint management compromise will improve readiness in case of exploitation.