CVE-2024-24680 is a denial-of-service vulnerability identified in the Django web framework, specifically affecting versions before 3.2.24, 4.2.10, and 5.0.2. The vulnerability resides in the intcomma template filter, a utility used to format numbers by inserting commas for readability. When this filter processes very long strings, it can be exploited to cause excessive CPU and memory consumption, leading to a denial-of-service condition. The attack vector is network-based and does not require any authentication or user interaction, making it accessible to remote attackers. The vulnerability impacts the availability of web applications that use the affected Django versions and rely on the intcomma filter, potentially causing service outages or degraded performance. Although no known exploits have been reported in the wild, the vulnerability's characteristics and CVSS score of 7.5 (high severity) indicate a significant risk. The issue was publicly disclosed on February 6, 2024, and patches have been released in the specified Django versions. Organizations using Django in their technology stacks should assess their exposure, especially if their applications process user-supplied data through templates using intcomma. The vulnerability does not affect confidentiality or integrity but poses a substantial threat to service availability.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2024-24680 is the potential disruption of web services due to denial-of-service attacks exploiting the intcomma filter in Django templates. This can lead to downtime, loss of customer trust, and operational interruptions, particularly for businesses relying on Django-based web applications for critical services. Sectors such as e-commerce, finance, healthcare, and government services that utilize Django frameworks could face significant availability issues. The vulnerability's ease of exploitation without authentication increases the risk of automated attacks targeting exposed endpoints. Additionally, organizations may incur costs related to incident response, mitigation, and potential regulatory scrutiny if service disruptions affect compliance with European data protection and service availability regulations. The lack of confidentiality or integrity impact reduces the risk of data breaches but does not diminish the operational threat posed by service outages.

To mitigate CVE-2024-24680, European organizations should immediately upgrade Django installations to versions 3.2.24, 4.2.10, or 5.0.2 or later, where the vulnerability is patched. Review and audit template usage to identify and limit the use of the intcomma filter, especially with untrusted or user-supplied input that could be manipulated to trigger the DoS condition. Implement input validation and length restrictions on data passed to templates to prevent excessively long strings from being processed. Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules designed to detect and block anomalous requests containing unusually long numeric strings or patterns targeting the intcomma filter. Monitor application performance and logs for signs of resource exhaustion or unusual template rendering times. Establish incident response procedures to quickly address potential DoS attacks. Finally, maintain an up-to-date inventory of Django versions in use across the organization to ensure timely patch management and vulnerability remediation.