CVE-2024-13991 is a path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22) found in the Huijietong Cloud Video Platform, which enables an unauthenticated attacker to supply arbitrary file paths via the 'fullPath' parameter to the '/fileDownload?action=downloadBackupFile' endpoint. This flaw allows attackers to bypass directory restrictions and retrieve any file accessible by the server process, potentially exposing sensitive configuration files, credentials, or user data. The vulnerability affects all versions of the product, indicating a systemic issue in input validation and access control. The CVSS 4.0 vector (AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N) highlights that the attack can be performed remotely over the network without authentication or user interaction, with a high impact on confidentiality but no direct impact on integrity or availability. Although no confirmed public exploits exist, the Rondo botnet has been observed targeting this vulnerability, suggesting active reconnaissance or exploitation attempts. The lack of available patches at the time of disclosure increases the urgency for organizations to implement compensating controls. The vulnerability's exploitation could lead to significant data breaches, loss of privacy, and potential footholds for further attacks within affected environments.

For European organizations, exploitation of CVE-2024-13991 could result in unauthorized disclosure of sensitive files, including configuration files, user data, or credentials stored on the Huijietong Cloud Video Platform servers. This breach of confidentiality can lead to compliance violations under GDPR and other data protection regulations, resulting in legal and financial penalties. Additionally, attackers gaining access to critical files may leverage this information to escalate privileges or move laterally within networks, increasing the risk of broader compromise. Organizations relying on Huijietong for video surveillance or cloud video services in sectors such as government, critical infrastructure, transportation, and corporate environments face heightened risks. The remote, unauthenticated nature of the exploit lowers the barrier for attackers, including automated botnets like Rondo, to conduct widespread scanning and exploitation campaigns. This could lead to large-scale data leaks or operational disruptions if sensitive video or backup files are exposed or manipulated.

1. Immediately restrict access to the '/fileDownload?action=downloadBackupFile' endpoint using network-level controls such as firewalls or web application firewalls (WAFs) to limit exposure to trusted IP addresses only. 2. Implement strict server-side input validation and sanitization for the 'fullPath' parameter to prevent directory traversal sequences (e.g., '..', '%2e%2e') from being processed. 3. Employ least privilege principles by ensuring the application process runs with minimal filesystem permissions, limiting accessible files to only those necessary for operation. 4. Monitor logs for unusual access patterns or requests targeting the vulnerable endpoint, especially those containing suspicious path traversal payloads. 5. Coordinate with Huijietong for timely patch deployment once available and validate patch effectiveness in test environments before production rollout. 6. Consider deploying runtime application self-protection (RASP) solutions that can detect and block path traversal attempts dynamically. 7. Educate security teams to recognize exploitation indicators related to this vulnerability and prepare incident response plans accordingly.