CVE-2024-13159 is an absolute path traversal vulnerability classified under CWE-36 found in Ivanti Endpoint Manager prior to the 2024 January-2025 and 2022 SU6 January-2025 Security Updates. This vulnerability allows a remote attacker with no authentication or user interaction to manipulate file path inputs to access arbitrary files on the server hosting the Endpoint Manager. By exploiting this flaw, attackers can read sensitive files, potentially including configuration files, credentials, or other critical data, leading to severe confidentiality breaches. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network, requiring no privileges, which significantly increases its risk profile. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 indicates critical severity, with high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, as attackers could also leverage leaked information to further compromise systems or disrupt services. Although no exploits have been reported in the wild yet, the ease of exploitation and the critical nature of the affected product make this a high-priority threat. Ivanti Endpoint Manager is widely used for enterprise endpoint management, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where it manages large numbers of devices. The lack of available patches at the time of reporting emphasizes the need for rapid vendor response and customer vigilance.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-13159 is substantial. Successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information such as system configurations, credentials, or proprietary data, undermining confidentiality. This can facilitate further attacks, including lateral movement, privilege escalation, or ransomware deployment. The integrity and availability of endpoint management operations may also be compromised, disrupting IT management and security enforcement across the enterprise. Given the critical role of endpoint management in maintaining organizational security posture, exploitation could cascade into broader operational disruptions. Sectors with stringent data protection requirements, such as finance, healthcare, and government, face heightened risks of regulatory non-compliance and reputational damage. The vulnerability’s remote and unauthenticated nature means attackers can target exposed management interfaces directly, increasing the attack surface. European organizations with Ivanti Endpoint Manager deployments must consider the potential for targeted attacks leveraging this vulnerability, especially in the context of increasing cyber espionage and ransomware activity in the region.

1. Immediately apply the Ivanti Endpoint Manager security updates released in the 2024 January-2025 and 2022 SU6 January-2025 Security Updates once available. 2. Until patches are applied, restrict network access to the Ivanti Endpoint Manager interface by implementing strict firewall rules and network segmentation to limit exposure to trusted administrative networks only. 3. Monitor logs and network traffic for unusual file access patterns or attempts to exploit path traversal, using intrusion detection systems or endpoint security tools. 4. Conduct a thorough audit of the Endpoint Manager environment to identify any signs of compromise or data exfiltration. 5. Employ application-layer filtering or web application firewalls (WAFs) to detect and block malicious path traversal attempts targeting the management interface. 6. Educate IT and security teams about this vulnerability and ensure rapid incident response capabilities are in place. 7. Review and enforce the principle of least privilege for accounts with access to the Endpoint Manager to minimize potential damage from exploitation. 8. Maintain up-to-date backups of critical configuration and endpoint data to enable recovery in case of compromise.