CVE-2024-22024 is a high-severity XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability identified in the SAML component of Ivanti Connect Secure (ICS) products, including Ivanti Policy Secure and Zero Trust Access (ZTA) gateways. The affected versions span multiple releases from 9.x and 22.x branches, indicating a broad impact across recent product iterations. The vulnerability arises due to improper handling of XML input in the SAML authentication process, allowing an attacker to exploit the XXE flaw to access restricted resources without any authentication. This means an unauthenticated remote attacker can craft malicious XML payloads that, when processed by the vulnerable SAML component, can lead to disclosure of sensitive internal files or resources, potentially impacting confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The CVSS v3.0 score of 8.3 reflects the critical nature of this vulnerability, with an attack vector that is network-based (AV:N), requiring no privileges (PR:N) or user interaction (UI:N), and with a scope change (S:C) indicating that the vulnerability affects resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. The CWE-611 classification confirms the root cause as improper restriction of XML external entity references. Although no known exploits are reported in the wild yet, the ease of exploitation and the criticality of the affected systems make this a significant threat. Ivanti ICS products are widely used in enterprise environments to provide secure remote access and policy enforcement, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations relying on these gateways for secure authentication and access control.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-22024 can be severe. Ivanti ICS products are commonly deployed in enterprise networks to secure remote access and enforce security policies, often protecting sensitive internal systems and data. Exploitation of this vulnerability could allow attackers to bypass authentication controls and access restricted resources, leading to potential data breaches, unauthorized access to confidential information, and disruption of critical business operations. Given the vulnerability affects the SAML authentication process, attackers might also manipulate identity assertions, undermining trust in federated identity systems. This could have cascading effects on compliance with data protection regulations such as GDPR, exposing organizations to legal and financial penalties. Additionally, the ability to access internal resources without authentication increases the risk of lateral movement within networks, potentially facilitating further compromise or ransomware deployment. The lack of required privileges or user interaction for exploitation further elevates the risk, as attackers can remotely target exposed Ivanti ICS gateways without needing insider access or user assistance.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should prioritize the following actions: 1) Immediate identification and inventory of all Ivanti ICS, Policy Secure, and ZTA gateway deployments to determine exposure. 2) Apply vendor-provided patches or updates as soon as they become available; if patches are not yet released, implement temporary mitigations such as disabling or restricting access to the vulnerable SAML components or services. 3) Employ network segmentation and firewall rules to limit external access to Ivanti ICS gateways, allowing only trusted IP addresses and VPN endpoints to connect. 4) Monitor logs and network traffic for unusual XML payloads or anomalous access patterns indicative of XXE exploitation attempts. 5) Conduct thorough security assessments and penetration tests focusing on SAML authentication flows to detect potential exploitation. 6) Implement strict input validation and XML parsing configurations that disable external entity processing where possible. 7) Educate security teams about the nature of XXE vulnerabilities and the importance of securing XML parsers in authentication systems. These targeted steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on the specific components and attack vectors related to this vulnerability.