CVE-2024-38524 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting GeoServer, an open-source server platform used for sharing and editing geospatial data. The vulnerability arises from the GeoWebCacheDispatcher component, specifically the handleFrontPage method, which fails to properly restrict access to potentially sensitive information. By default, the system property controlling the visibility of storage locations is hidden only by a configuration setting that defaults to showing these locations. This means that unauthorized users can access information about the storage locations used by GeoServer without any authentication or user interaction. The exposure of such internal storage paths can aid attackers in reconnaissance activities, potentially facilitating further targeted attacks or exploitation of other vulnerabilities. The vulnerability affects GeoServer versions from 2.25.0 up to but not including 2.25.6, and from 2.26.0 up to but not including 2.26.2. The issue has been addressed in versions 2.25.6 and 2.26.2. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.3, reflecting a medium severity with network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction, and limited confidentiality impact. No integrity or availability impacts are noted. There are no known exploits in the wild at this time. This vulnerability falls under CWE-200, which involves the exposure of sensitive information to unauthorized actors.

For European organizations, the exposure of sensitive storage location information in GeoServer can increase the risk profile of their geospatial data infrastructure. GeoServer is widely used in government agencies, urban planning, environmental monitoring, and utilities management across Europe, where geospatial data is critical. Unauthorized disclosure of storage paths may enable attackers to map the internal architecture of the system, identify potential points of entry, or craft more effective attacks such as directory traversal or local file inclusion if other vulnerabilities exist. While the vulnerability itself does not directly compromise data integrity or availability, it lowers the barrier for attackers to conduct reconnaissance and escalate attacks. This is particularly concerning for organizations handling sensitive or critical infrastructure data, such as transportation networks, energy grids, or defense-related geospatial information. The medium severity rating suggests a moderate risk, but the impact could be amplified if combined with other vulnerabilities or misconfigurations.

European organizations using affected versions of GeoServer should prioritize upgrading to versions 2.25.6 or 2.26.2 where this vulnerability is fixed. Until upgrades can be applied, administrators should explicitly configure the system property that controls the visibility of storage locations to hide this information, overriding the default behavior. Additionally, network-level controls such as restricting access to GeoServer management interfaces and front pages to trusted IP ranges or VPNs can reduce exposure. Implementing web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules to detect and block suspicious requests targeting GeoWebCacheDispatcher endpoints can provide an additional layer of defense. Regularly auditing GeoServer configurations and logs for unusual access patterns is recommended. Organizations should also ensure that their overall geospatial data infrastructure follows the principle of least privilege and segmentation to limit the impact of any information disclosure.