CVE-2024-32152 identifies a vulnerability in the LaTeX rendering functionality of Ankitects Anki version 24.04, a popular flashcard application widely used for learning and memorization. The issue stems from an incomplete blacklist implementation (CWE-184) that fails to properly filter or sanitize certain inputs within LaTeX flashcards. This allows an attacker to craft a malicious flashcard that bypasses the blacklist and triggers arbitrary file creation at a predetermined path on the victim’s system. The attack vector involves an adversary sharing a malicious flashcard file, which the victim must open to activate the exploit. The vulnerability does not require any privileges or authentication, but it does require user interaction, making social engineering a likely exploitation method. The impact is limited to integrity, as unauthorized files can be created, potentially leading to further attacks if combined with other vulnerabilities or used to plant malicious payloads. The CVSS score of 3.1 reflects the low severity, primarily due to the high attack complexity and requirement for user interaction. No patches or known exploits have been reported yet, but awareness and cautious handling of flashcards from untrusted sources are advised.

For European organizations, particularly educational institutions, research centers, and individual users relying on Anki for study and knowledge management, this vulnerability poses a risk to system integrity. Arbitrary file creation could be leveraged to place malicious scripts or files that might be executed later or used to escalate privileges if combined with other vulnerabilities. Although the direct impact on confidentiality and availability is minimal, the integrity compromise could facilitate supply chain attacks or malware persistence. Organizations with large deployments of Anki 24.04 or those sharing flashcard decks widely are more exposed. The risk is heightened in environments where users may import flashcards from external or unverified sources without strict controls. However, the requirement for user interaction and the complexity of exploitation reduce the likelihood of widespread automated attacks.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should: 1) Educate users about the risks of importing flashcards from untrusted or unknown sources, emphasizing caution with LaTeX-enabled decks. 2) Temporarily disable or restrict LaTeX rendering in Anki until an official patch is released. 3) Implement endpoint security measures to monitor and block unauthorized file creations in sensitive directories. 4) Use application whitelisting and sandboxing to limit the impact of any malicious files created. 5) Regularly update Anki to the latest versions once a patch addressing this vulnerability is available. 6) Employ network-level controls to detect and prevent sharing of suspicious flashcard files within organizational environments. 7) Encourage reporting of suspicious flashcards and incidents to IT security teams for analysis.