CVE-2024-29643 is a critical vulnerability identified in Croogo version 3.0.2, a content management system (CMS) built on the CakePHP framework. The vulnerability arises from improper handling of the Host header in the feed.rss component, allowing an attacker to perform Host header injection (CWE-444). Host header injection occurs when an application uses the Host header from HTTP requests without proper validation or sanitization, enabling attackers to manipulate the header to influence application behavior. In this case, the feed.rss component processes the Host header insecurely, which can lead to several attack vectors including web cache poisoning, password reset poisoning, and potentially redirecting users to malicious sites. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.1 indicates a critical severity level, with an attack vector of network (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), and high impact on confidentiality and integrity (C:H/I:H), but no impact on availability (A:N). This means the vulnerability can be exploited remotely without authentication or user interaction, potentially allowing attackers to intercept or manipulate sensitive information and compromise the integrity of the application or its data. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the ease of exploitation and critical impact make this a significant threat. The lack of vendor or product details beyond Croogo 3.0.2 limits the scope of affected systems, but given Croogo's use as a CMS, any web-facing installations running this version are at risk. The absence of a patch link suggests that a fix may not yet be publicly available, increasing the urgency for mitigation.

For European organizations using Croogo CMS version 3.0.2, this vulnerability poses a serious risk to the confidentiality and integrity of their web applications and associated data. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information, such as user credentials or internal URLs, and manipulation of content served to end-users, potentially damaging organizational reputation and trust. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to conduct phishing attacks by poisoning password reset emails or redirecting users to malicious sites, increasing the risk of credential theft or malware infection. Given the critical CVSS score and the lack of required privileges or user interaction, attackers can exploit this vulnerability at scale, potentially targeting multiple organizations simultaneously. This is particularly concerning for European entities in sectors like government, finance, healthcare, and media, where CMS platforms are widely used and data sensitivity is high. Additionally, the vulnerability could be used as a foothold for further attacks within the network, compromising broader organizational security. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive defense, but the situation demands immediate attention to prevent exploitation.

1. Immediate audit of all web-facing Croogo CMS installations to identify those running version 3.0.2. 2. If possible, upgrade to a later version of Croogo where this vulnerability is patched; if no official patch is available, consider applying custom input validation or sanitization on the Host header within the feed.rss component to reject or neutralize malicious headers. 3. Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules specifically targeting Host header anomalies, such as unexpected or suspicious host values, to block exploitation attempts. 4. Monitor web server and application logs for unusual Host header values or repeated access to feed.rss endpoints, which may indicate attempted exploitation. 5. Restrict access to the feed.rss component where feasible, for example by IP whitelisting or requiring authentication, to reduce exposure. 6. Educate development and security teams about the risks of Host header injection and ensure secure coding practices are followed in future CMS customizations or deployments. 7. Coordinate with hosting providers and security vendors to stay informed about emerging exploits and patches related to this vulnerability. 8. Consider implementing HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) and Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to mitigate the impact of potential redirection or injection attacks stemming from this vulnerability.